Vl 



li 



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR 
COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 

O. H. TITTMANN, Superintendent 



SURVEY OF OYSTER BARS 



WICOMICO COUNTY 
MARYLAND 



DESCRIPTION OF BOUNDARIES AND LANDMARKS AND REPORT 
OF WORK OF UNITED STATES COAST AND GEODETIC SUR- 
VEY IN COOPERATION WITH UNITED STATES BUREAU OF 
FISHERIES AND MARYLAND SHELL FISH COMMISSION 



By C. C. YATES 

CHIEF OF COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY PARTY 
ASSISTANT, COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 




WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1909 



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR 
'■■■- COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 

O. H. TITTMANN, Superintendent 



SURVEY OF OYSTER BARS 



WICOMICO COUNTY 
MARYLAND 



DESCRIPTION OF BOUNDARIES AND LANDMARKS AND REPORT 
OF WORK OF UNITED STATES COAST AND GEODETIC SUR- 
VEY IN COOPERATION WITH UNITED STATES BUREAU OF 
FISHERIES AND MARYLAND SHELL FISH COMMISSION 



By C. C. YATES 

CHIEF OF COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY PARTY 
ASSISTANT. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 




WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1909 






0. OF 0. 

IAN 221909 



LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. 



Department of Commerce and Labor, 

Coast and Geodetic Survey, 

Washington, November 12, 1908. 
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the officer detailed from 
the Coast and Geodetic Survey to cooperate with the Bureau of Fisheries and the Mary- 
land Shell Fish Commission in surveying the oyster bars of the State of Maryland, and 
certain technical results which are necessary for the interpretation and use of the plats 
of the survey made by the Government. 

This work has been done under the provisions of the act of Congress entitled "An 
act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce and Labor to cooperate, through the Bureau 
of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Bureau of Fisheries, with the shell fish com- 
missioners of the State of Maryland in making surveys of the natural oyster beds, bars, 
and rocks in the waters within the State of Maryland," approved May 26, 1906, and of 
the acts of Congress making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government 
for the fiscal years ending Jwnc 30, 1907, 190S, and 1909. 
Respectfully, 

O. H. Tittmann, Superintendent. 
To Hon. Oscar S. Straus, 

Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 

3 



CERTIFICATION. 



Annapolis, Md., November lo, 1908. 
The following publication is certified to contain correct technical descriptions of 
all boundaries and landmarks established in the waters of Wicomico County by the 
Maryland Shell Fish Commission in cooperation with the United States Coast and 
Geodetic Survey. 

C. C. Yates, 
Chief of Coast and Geodetic Survey Party, 

Assistant, Coast and Geodetic Survey. 



Annapolis, Md., November 10, 1908. 
Examined and certified to be correct. 

Walter J. Mitchell, 
Caswell Grave, 
Benjamin K. Green, 
~ Maryland Shell Fish Commission. 
Swepson Earle, 

Hydrographic Engineer. 

Note. — As required by law, certified copies of this publication and of the charts 
of the natural oyster bars of "Wicomico County and Adjacent Waters" were filed in 
the office of the clerk of the circuit court of Wicomico County and in the office of the 
Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, at Annapolis, on December i, 1908. 

5 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Progress map Follows 54 

Letter of submittal 3 

Certification 5 

Introduction: 

Publications 9 

Cooperation of the Coast and Geodetic Survey 10 

Cooperation of the Bureau of Fisheries lo 

General remarks 10 

Report of the work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey: 

Instructions 13 

Organization and equipment 13 

Chronological statement of work 14 

Statistics 15 

General statement 15 

Charts and maps: 

Charts of natural oyster bars 17 

Leasing charts 18 

Projections ig 

Progress maps 19 

Boundaries of the county waters: 

Waters within territorial limits of county 20 

Waters contiguous to county. , 20 

Landmarks (U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey triangulation stations): 

Explanation of descriptions of landmarks 21 

Descriptions of triangulation stations — 

Chart No. 11 (Middle Nanticoke River) — 

Cow (see also Chart No. 12) 23 

Okay ' 23 

Ar 24 

Gover _ 24 

Street t 25 

Earle 25 

Juliet 25 

Pole 26 

Bivalve Church 26 

Rag 26 

Nanticoke Church (see also Chart No. 12) 26 

Cliart No. 12 (Nanticoke and Wicomico rivers) — 

Cow (see also Chart No. 11) 23 

Nanticoke Church (see also Chart No. lO 26 

Crab 27 

Sharkfin Shoal Light 27 

■ Head 27 

Frog , 28 

7 



8 Co)itc)i/s. 

Landmarks (U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey triangulation stations) — Continued. 

Descriptions of triangulation stations — Continued. 

Chart No. 12 (Nanticoke and Wicomico rivers) — Continued. Page. 

Roar 28 

Nanti 29 

White 29 

Ella ^ 29 

Holland 30 

Child 30 

Creek 31 

End 31 

Walnut , 32 

Jones 32 

Ivee 32 

Mount Vernon Church 33 

Ball 33 

Wind 33 

Little 34 

Dove 34 

Great Shoals Light 35 

Short 35 

Room .- 35 

Haines '. 36 

Deal Island Church 36 

Bar '.. 36 

Boundaries of oyster bars: 

E.xplanation of descriptions of boundaries 38 

Surveying methods for relocation of boundaries 39 

Boundaries of natural oyster bars — 

Chart No. 11 (Middle Nanticoke River) — 

Upper Stake 42 

Wetipquin 42 

Sand Lump- .... ._ _, 43 

Hickory Nut.- - .-43 

Old Womans Patch 43 

Cedar Shoal 44 

Long Shoal 44 

Cherry Tree 44 

Wilson Shoals _. 45 

Roaring Point East (see also Chart No. 12) 45 

Chart No. 12 (Nanticoke and Wicomico rivers) — 

Roaring Point East (see also Chart No. 11) 45 

Middleground 46 

Big Hill 46 

Great Shoals 47 

Ingram Shoal 47 

Holland 48 

Appendixes: 

Appendix A. — Laws relating to the cooperation of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and 

Bureau of Fisheries with the Maryland Shell Fish Commission 49 

Appendix B. — "The Haman Oyster Culture Law" (extract from First Report of Shell Fish 

Commission) 52 

Appendix C. — Statistics of results of the combined operations of the Government and State. 53 



SURVEY OF OYSTER BARS, WICOMICO COUNTY, MD. 



INTRODUCTION. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

The preparation of publications relating to the survey of the oyster bars of Maryland 
has been divided between the Government and the State in accordance with the laws" 
authorizing the work and the natural division of the surveying operations of the cooper- 
ating forces. 

The publications prepared and issued by the Government under the direction of 
the Superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey consist of a series of charts and 
a technical report for each county surveyed. *> The charts show all legal boundaries of 
oyster bars within the adopted boundaries of the waters opened up for leasing with each 
county, and the location of all landmarks (Coast and Geodetic Survey triangulation 
stations) used as a foundation for the delineation of these various boundaries. The 
technical report gives technical and legal descriptions of all oyster bar and other bound- 
aries, and descriptions of all landmarks shown on the charts, and includes the report^' 
of the representative of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in charge of the work of that 
Service in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and the Maryland Shell Fish Com- 
mission. These charts and technical reports are prepared and certified for file with the 
courts and the Commission, as required by the laws of the State, and contain all infor- 
mation necessary to make a permanent record of the work of the Commission and the 
Government for all future requirements of the courts, or for any resurveys that may 
become necessary. 

The part prepared and issued by the State under the direction of the Shell Fish 
Commission consists of an annual report"* of all the operations of the Commission 
performed under the provisions of the laws of Maryland," including results of biological 



" See Appendix A for laws relating to the cooperation of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and Bureau 
of Fisheries with the Maryland Shell Fish Commission. 

b These charts and technical reports can be obtained by application to the Superintendent of the 
Coast and Geodetic Survey, at Washington, D. C. The publications ready for issue are those for Anne 
Arundel, Somerset, and Wicomico counties. Those for Worcester, Calvert, St. Marys, and Charles 
counties are now being prepared. 

''See page 13 and the progress map attached to this publication. 

■i These reports can be obtained by application to the Shell Fish Commission, Annapolis, Md. 
They are issued annually in October, and the first report is now available for distribution. 

«See Appendix B for an extract from the "First Report of the Maryland Shell Fish Commission," 
giving a concise summary of the "Haman Oyster Ciilture Law." 

61807 — 09 2 g' 



lo Survi'v of Oyster Bars, U'icoinico County, Md. 

and economic oyster investigations, methods and results of the hydrographic survey of 
the boundaries of oyster bars and crab bottoms, the administrative report and financial 
statement of the Commission, information relating to oyster culture, methods of sur- 
veying and leasing of oyster lots, and much other important matter of legal and scientific 
value. 

These two sets of publications are planned and arranged to supplement each other 
without unnecessary duplication, and when combined they form a complete report of 
operations, methods, and results of the work of both the Government and State. 

COOPERATION OF THE COA.ST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. 

'I'he work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, as the name of the Service indicates, 
includes a survey of the coasts of the United States made on a geodetic basis. This 
has involved the gradual construction of a great framework of interstate triangulation 
for use as a foundation for detail hj'drographic and topographic surveys, from which 
there has been compiled and published a complete set of charts of the coasts of the 
United States, including all waters of Maryland where oysters grow. This existing 
triangulation, hydrography, and topography is essential for a correct and practical 
survey of natural oyster bars; and it being one of the fundamental functions of the 
Coast and Geodetic Survey to furnish such data, the cooperation of the Coast and 
Geodetic Survey with the Bureau of Fisheries and the Maryland Shell Fish Conmiission 
is a practical and natural development of Government work leading to the conservation 
and increase of the supply of food. • 

COOPERATION OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

The Bureau of Fisheries has cooperated with the Coast and Geodetic Survey and 
the Maryland Shell Fish Commission principally as an adviser in matters relating to the 
biological and economic survey of oyster bars and the methods to be employed for that 
purpose. " A steam launch, rowing boat, and certain apparatus have also been furnished. 

The primary function of the Bureau of Fisheries is to increase the productiveness 
of marine and fresh waters by such measures as may be best suited to the purpose, and 
the services rendered in connection with the survey of the oyster bars of Maryland are 
strictly in line with the fundamental law under which it acts. In certain States other 
than Maryland similar work has been conducted by the Bureau acting independently, 
the same ends being attained at greater expense to the Govermnent. 

OENERAL REMARKS. 

A brief account of the jiarticular surveying operations which constitute an "oyster 
survey" as now being carried on in Maryland will assist in the interpretation of records 
contained in the technical part of this report, and will be of interest to many who may 
not understand the necessity for the great amount of work being done or its complicated 
• character. 

To those familiar with methods used in surv-eying and charting the characteristic 
features of large bodies of water there is an evident necessity for the various operations 



" Hon. George M. Bowers, Commissioner of Fisheries, has detailed for this service Dr. H. F. Moore, 
-Assistant, Bureau of Fisheries. 



Survey of Oyster Bars, li'icouiico Coitn/y, Md. ii 

performed, especially when it is known that the boundaries of the public oyster bars 
and of the private lots leased for purposes of oyster culture must be surveyed and 
charted with the greatest attainable accuracy. To others it will be sufficient to state 
that the actual experience gained from oyster surveys in other States has proven that 
in order to avoid endless dissatisfaction and litigation, it is necessary to accurately 
locate and permanently establish oyster boundaries as is now being done in Maryland. 

Such refinement of survey work as that demanded by the conditions of an oyster 
survey when carried on at considerable distances offshore can only be obtained by the 
use of a system of triangulation as a frame work or foundation. Therefore, a triangulation 
survey including the permanent marking of the positions of landmarks with monuments 
and a record of the descriptions of their locations for future recovery is a necessary 
operation of a complete oyster survey. 

The technical records which established the relation between the offshore oyster 
boundaries and triangulation landmarks are sufficient for the requirements of engineers 
in making resurveys, but do not supply the needs of others who are interested in the 
same boundaries by reason of their occupation, as oystermen concerned as to the public 
oyster bars, or oyster culturists concerned as to the barren bottoms. For these it 
is necessary to have the charts of the survey show the relation of the shore line and 
other topographic features to the boundaries of the public oyster bars and private 
oyster farms. Therefore, a topographic survey is a necessary operation of a complete 
oyster survey. 

In the settlement of the important question of what is, or what is not, a natural 
oyster bar, and in the consideration of bottoms to be selected for purposes of oyster 
culture, information as to the depth of water and the character of the bottom is 
required. Therefore, a hydrographic survey is a necessary operation of a complete 
oyster survey. 

Consequently, the necessary components of a satisfactory foundation for a complete 
oyster survey are the three classes of survey operations technically named triangula- 
tion, topography, and hydrography, or, stated in another way, the foundation of a 
practical oyster sun^ey includes the surveying operations usually followed by the Coast 
and Geodetic Survey leading up to the preparation and publication of nautical charts. 

Having obtained this cartographic survey for a foundation, partly by new work 
and partly from records of previous work of the Government, the combined operations ° 
making up an "oyster survey" are completed by superimposing on this foundation 
special surveys and investigations pertaining particularly to oysters or other shell fish. 

The special surveys pertaining to oysters furnish information as to the location 
and outline of oyster-shell bottoms, and are carried on by the sounding boat party in 
addition to the usual hydrographic work.* This operation consists of the observation 
and record of the character of vibration of a wire and chain apparatus which is dragged 
over the bottom, the vibrations or lack of vibrations indicating the presence and 
quantity of shells or absence of shells. 



" See Appendix C of this publication for "Statistics of results of combined operations of the Gov- 
ernment and State." 

^ See pages T04 to 123 of " First Annual Report of Maryland Shell Fish Commission." 



12 Survey of- Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 

The special oyster investigations" consist of the actual determination of the kind 
and quantity of oysters on the bottom, and such economic and biological studies of 
the supply of oyster food, density of water, character of the bottom, and other important 
matters as afifect the growth of oysters. In this work the oyster investigation stations 
are located and buoyed by the hydrographic party while engaged in the survey of the 
oyster-shell limits. They are selected with the view of obtaining characteristic data 
which can be used for the interpretation of the recorded vibrations of the chain 
apparatus at all other points covered by the survey. 

The actual surveying operations and oyster investigations having been completed 
for any one county, there still remains technical work of nearly equal magnitude to 
that described.'' This work consists of the preparation of charts and technical descrip- 
tions of boundaries and landmarks for record and publication by the Government, 
the manufacture and planting of "State buoys" at all corners of the oyster-bar 
boundaries, the preparation of that part of the annual report of the Commission cover- 
ing the oyster investigations, the making of the leasing charts and finished projections, 
and finally the survey and record of the boundaries of oyster lots leased from the State 
by private individuals for the purposes of oyster culture. 

From the foregoing account it can be seen that a complete oyster survey properly 
conducted so as to answer all practical requirements of the present and permanency of 
results for the future is a very complicated affair, involving many lines, of surveying 
and other scientific work, and requiring the professional services of experts in the various 
operations of cartographic surveying and shell-fish investigations. 

« See pages 30 to 67 and 129 to 199 of " First Annual Report of Maryland Shell Fish Commission." 
b No mention is made here of the large amount of administrative work of the Commission, which 
is greatly complicated and increased by the economic and political effect of the oyster-survey opera- 
tions on many thousands of people whose interests are more or less involved. 



REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. 

INSTRUCTIONS. 

The two following letters, together with the laws" of the United States relating 
to the subject, constitute the "instructions" received by the chief of the Coast and 
Geodetic Survey party engaged on work in connection with the Maryland Shell Fish 
Commission. They are short and definite, but furnish ample authority and leeway for 
all legitimate development of the cooperation of the Government and the State in the 
survey of oyster bars. The "free hand" permitted by these orders, together with the 
aid and many valuable suggestions received from the officers of the Survey at Wash- 
ington, has proved very beneficial to the work, and is greatly appreciated. 

Department of Commerce and Labor, 

Office of the Secretary, 

Washington, June z, igo6. 
Sir: In reply to your letter of May 28, requesting me to designate officers of the Coast and 
Geodetic Survey and of the Bureau of Fisheries to cooperate with the State of Maryland in making 
survey of and locating the natural oyster beds, I have the honor to inform you that Mr. C. C. Yates 
will be designated to cooperate on the part of the Coast and Geodetic Survey as soon as Congress 
makes the provisions of the act effective by providing an appropriation for the purpose. 
Respectfully, 

Lawrence O. Murray, Assistant Secretary. 
His excellency Hon. Edwin Warfield, 

Governor of Marylaiid, Annapolis, Md. 



Department of Commerce and Labor, 

Coast and Geodetic Survey, 

Washington, July 3, igo6. 
Sir: Upon the receipt of these instructions you will surrender the command, accounts, etc., of 
the steamer Endeavor to the Hydrographic Inspector. * * * 

As soon as this transfer is completed you will enter upon the duties of Coast Survey representative 
on the Shell Fish Commission of Maryland. 

You will consult the commissioners, prepare a programme of work, and submit estimates in the 
usual form. 

You are authorized to come to Washington for consultation from time to time as may be necessary. 

Very respectfully, 

O. H. TiTTMann, Superintendent. 
Capt. C. C. Yates, 

U . S. C. and G. S. Steamer Endeavor, Baltimore, Md. 

ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 

The personnel and occupation of the party of the Coast and Geodetic Survey have 
remained practically unchanged since the beginning of the "oyster survey." Besides 
the chief of party, it consists of the necessary triangulators, computers, draftsmen, 
and temporary employees required to carry on both the surveying operations in the 



o For these laws see Appendix A. 



14 Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 

field and the preparation for publication of charts and technical records in the Office 
at Washington. 

The equipment for the work of the party has been ample and satisfactory. The 
large living and office quarters furnished the Government on the Maryland Shell Fish 
Commission house boat Oyster have been very convenient for the work, besides facili- 
tating efficient cooperation with the surveying and oyster investigation parties of the 
State. In addition to the accommodations on the Oyster, the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey party has had the constant use of the large steam launch Inspector and several 
other boats furnished by its own Service, and the occasional use of the Bureau of 
Fisheries launch Canvasback'^ and the steamer Governor McLane'' of the State fishery 
force. 

The greater part of the equipment of instruments for the operations of both the 
Government and State has been furnished by the Coast and Geodetic Survey and 
consists of all necessary theodolites, levels, sextants, drafting instruments, hydrometers, 
etc., required for all field and office work. 

CHRONOLOGICAL STATEMENT OK WORK. " 

On June 20, 1907, the work in connection with the publication of the "Charts of 
Natural Oyster Bars" and report* of "Sur\^ey of Oyster Bars" for Anne Arundel 
County was finally completed and the survey records and reports for that county were 
ready for filing in the archives of the Survey at Washington. 

In addition to this work, a Coast and Geodetic Survey signal-building party was 
engaged in the erection of triangulation signals in Somerset County from May 2 to 
June 25 in cooperation with a signal-building party of the Shell Fish Commission. 

From June 25 until the practical completion of the field work in Somerset and 
Wicomico counties on November 6, the usual routine of field and office work was 
followed without material interruption except that resulting from the moving of the 
house boat Oyster from Crisfield to Manokin River on July 13, then to Piney Island 
on August 27, and to Wicomico River on August 30, where she remained until her 
removal to Nanticoke River on September 30, 1907. 

From this latter date the work in Wicomico County predominated until the field 
surveys of that county were completed, when the entire party left by rail for Worcester 
County, it being impracticable to move the house boat to the waters of that locality. 

At the close of the survey work in Worcester County in the last part of De- 
cember, office work relating to Somerset and Wicomico counties was begun at Balti- 
more,' and was continued without material interruption until March 23, 1908, when 
a subparty went to Worcester and Somerset counties to finish some details of field 
work in those sections required for the preparation of the technical reports and oyster 
charts. 

" By courtesy of Dr. H. F. Moore, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

(< By courtesy of Capt. James A. Turner, commanding. 
■ >: The field and office work relating to Somerset County is so intermixed with that of Wicomico 
County that this statement includes the work of both counties. 

^ See that report for an account of the work from July 3, igo6, to June 20, 1907. 

e Office rooms were furnished for the work of the Government party in the "old court-house" 
and afterwards in the new custom-house by courtesy of Hon. William F. Stone, collector of customs. 



Suri'ev of Oyster Bars, JVicomico County, Md. 15 

The very large amount of work of computation and drafting necessary to make 
the results of the survey of the previous season available for publication was nearly 
completed on May 2, 1908, when it was transferred to the Government quarters on 
the house boat Oyster, which left Baltimore on the same day with the party and outfit 
for her anchorage off Solomons Island, in the Patuxent River. 

On July I, 1908, certified copies of the technical report and oyster charts of Som- 
erset County were filed in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of Somerset County 
and in the office of the Board of the Shell Fish Commissioners, at Annapolis, thus 
opening that county for oyster culture on that date. 

STATISTICS." 

Landmarks and triangulation signals erected 30 

Monuments planted to mark triangulation stations 30 

Triangulation stations occupied for observations of horizontal angles 32 

Old triangulation stations recovered 5- 

New triangulation stations established 32 

Total old and new triangulation stations marked and described 37 

Linear miles of shore line covered by triangulation (approximate) 46 

Square miles covered by triangulation (approximate) 44 

Hydrographic projections prepared and completed as records of oyster boundaries 2 

Triangles computed 80 

Geographic positions computed 37 

Corners of oyster boundaries established by computation 56 

Back azimuths and distances computed from corners of boundaries to triangulation stations 168 

Descriptions of triangulation stations prepared for publication 37 

Descri])tions of oyster boundaries prepared for publication 15 

Total typewritten pages of manuscript prepared for publication of report 115 

"Charts of Natural Oyster Bars" prepared for publication 2 

Progress map prepared for publication i 

GENERAL ST.\TEMENT. 

The results obtained from the work of the Coast and Geodetic Sur^'ey in Wicomico 
County in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and the Maryland Shell Fish Com- 
mission need no other summary than is indicated by the published "Charts of Natural 
Oyster Bars" and the scheme of hydrographic projections and triangulation stations 
shown on the progress map at the end of this report. 

The triangulation has been carried on in accordance with the standard methods 
of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, making this work and that of the "Descriptions of 
Triangulation Stations" of permanent value, not only to the State of Maryland in the 
survey of her oyster bars, but also to the Government for any future work it may do 
in the regions covered by the oyster survey operations. 

The hydrographic projections and published charts were prepared with all the 
accuracy permitted by their large scale, especially as to the boundaries of the various 

"These statistics only include field and office work directly performed by the party of the Coast 
and Geodetic Survey in connection with the oyster survey of Wicomico County, and do not include the 
many thousands of soundings and examinations of the character of the bottom made by the engineers 
of the Commission, which are of considerable value to the Coast and Geodetic Survey as hydrographic 
records for future use in connection with the preparation of new editions of charts of the waters of 
Maryland, 



i6 ■ Survey of Oyster Bars, Wiconiico County, Md. 

shell-fish bottoms in relation to landmarks, but this accuracy of location on the charts 
is further added to by published technical descriptions which should minimize the 
probability of any future dispute as to either landmarks or boundaries. 

Stated another way and quoting from the report of the "Survey of Oyster Bars of 
Anne Arundel County:" 

The geographic positions of the permanent landmarks and signals have been determined with the 
usual precision of a trigonometric survey, and their locations at all points necessary to provide ample 
foundation for the surveying and charting operations permitted great accuracy of definition and loca- 
tion for the natural oyster bar and other boundaries established. At the same time, the very important 
element of permanency of the positions of boundaries has been secured, as the relocation of geodetic 
positions can always be accomplished by a competent surveyor, even though the original landmarks 
and monuments have been washed away, as has been the fate of hundreds of such points established 
by the Coast and Geodetic Survey on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay during the last sixty-five years. 

In fact, when the survey of the oyster bars of Maryland is completed, it is believed 
that it will stand the test of time and practical use as a working foundation for whatever 
form the oyster legislation of the future may assume, and that the doing of the work 
systematically and accurately, once for all, not only means a better foundation of a 
great oyster industry by irradicably locating the natural oyster bars for the use of the 
public, but also a better and more permanent superstructure of oyster culture for the 
individual by the reason of the integrity of the foundation on which it stands. 

Before ending this report the representative of the Coast and Geodetic Survey 
wishes to renew his statement of appreciation of the courteous assistance received from 
various Government and State officials and others interested in the oyster industry of 
Maryland, especially to the following: 

To his colleague from the Department of Commerce and Labor, Dr. H. F. Moore 
of the Bureau of Fisheries, whose well-known scientific knowledge of all matters relating 
to oysters has been of great value to the work. 

To Mr. Walter J. Mitchell, chairman of the Maryland Shell Fish Commission, who, 
by his administrative ability in carrying out the complicated requirements of the oyster 
laws and by his unfailing tact, has made the cooperation of the various services engaged 
on the work both agreeable and effective. 

To Dr. Caswell Grave, secretary of the Commission, who, as editor of the Com- 
mission's annual report and commissioner in charge of the biological and economic 
oyster investigations, has been brought into constant contact with the Government 
work and aided its operations in every way. 

To Benjamin K. Green, treasurer of the Commission, who has looked after the 
equipment and commissary of the house boat in such a way as to add greatly to the 
comfort and convenience of the party of the Coast and Geodetic Sur\^ey. 

To Swepson Earle, hydrographic engineer to the Commission, whose knowledge of 
the work from former ser\'ice in the Coast and Geodetic Survey has greatly facilitated 
his practical use of the technical data furnished by the Government. 

To Thomas H. Robinson, counsel to the Commission, for courteously furnishing 
valuable information relating to county boundaries. 

And to the many others connected with the Commission or who as residents in the 
locality where the work was being carried on have greatly assisted by furnishing 
important information or willing services. 



CHARTS AND MAPS. 

CHARTS OF NATURAL OYSTER BARS. 

The charts" of the natural oyster bars of "Wicomico County and Adjacent Waters," 
published by the Coast and Geodetic Survey from results of sur\'eys of the Government 
in cooperation with the Maryland Shell Fish Commission, consist of two sheets covering 
the eastern shore of Nanticoke River and the northern shore of Wicomico River, 
including all oyster-producing bottoms of Wicomico County. They are published on 
a scale of i part in 20,000 (approximately 3,5 inches to a statute mile) and are 
constructed on polyconic projections and based on the United States standard datum 
of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. 

These charts show all oyster bars and other boundaries established by the Commis- 
sion, and are certified for the purpose of filing in the office of the clerk of the circuit 
court of Wicomico County and in the office of the Commission at Annapolis, as 
required by the oyster laws of Maryland. 

In addition to the oyster-bar and other boundaries, the charts show the location 
and name of all landmarks (U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey triangulation stations) 
used in making the survey, together with the hydrography and topography'' necessary 
to make the technical definitions and delineations of boundaries readily understandable 
both by the people engaged in the oyster industry and the general public who may 
become interested through leasing of barren bottoms for oyster culture. 

The names of the oyster bars are those used locally, as nearly as could be ascertained 
by the hydrographic engineer of the Commission. When there was no local name in 
common use, a name was selected from one of the prominent features of the vicinity. 
By the use of recognized names or those that would naturally suggest certain sections 
of water, it is believed that much confusion will be avoided in the location on the charts 
of the oyster bars, especially bj' those not familiar with the use of maps. 

The corners of the oyster bars are numbered from i to the total number of corners 
in each area under consideration. Where boundaries adjoin, making one point a 
corner of two or more oyster bars, these points have two or more numbers, each number 
corresponding to the bar in which the figure is located. The numbers of the corners 
correspond with the technical and legal descriptions of this publication under the 
headings of "Boundaries of natural oyster bars." 

The landmarks and oyster bars have been grouped in the "Contents" of this 
publication in accordance with the charts upon which they are shown. To find a 



" These charts can be obtained by appHcation to the Superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey, at Washington, D. C. 

b Much of the details of the inshore topography was obtained from the excellent map of Wicomico 
County prepared and published by the Maryland Geological Survey under the direction of Dr. William 
Bullock Clark from surveys of the Maryland Geological Survey in cooperation with the U. S. Geological 
Survey. 

61807 — 09 3 17 



1 8 Siinu'v of Ovs/rr Bars^ Wicomiro Coiini\\ Md. 

particular oyster bar or landmark which is only known by name, consult the "Con- 
tents" and the desired chart and general location will be indicated. To find the name 
of a bar or landmark which is only known by location, consult the progress map at 
the end of this pubHcation for the number of the chart on which it is to be found, and 
then examine the known locality on the chart for the name of the bar or landmark 
in question. 

The contours on the charts showing the depth of water at mean low tide have been 
taken from the hydrographic sheets of former work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. 
Four curves were selected as being the most convenient for taking off from the original 
hydrographic sheets and the ones of greatest value to those interested in shell-fish 
industries. The i -fathom contour (6 feet) corresponds in a general way to the outer 
limits of the crab bottoms, while the waters outside of this curve and inside the 5-fathom 
contour (30 feet) practically include all the oyster bars surveyed. The 3-fathom 
contour (18 feet) furnishes the curve of about the average depth of water on the oyster 
bars and the lo-fathom contour (60 feet) serves in a general way to indicate the outer 
limits of probable oyster culture. 

The boundaries of the waters within the "territorial limits of the county" opened 
up for the leasing with Wicomico County are plainly indicated on the charts. A 
description of this boundary is given in this publication under the heading "Boundaries 
of the county waters." 

The areas in acres of the oyster bars were determined under the direction of the 
hydrographic engineer of the Commission by two independent planimeter measure- 
ments of the areas as dehneated on the smooth projections of the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey. These areas are given in small figures in parentheses on the face of the chart 
and are usually located within the boundaries of the different areas. 

The symbols used on the charts for the different kinds of boundaries, triangulation 
stations, contours of depth of water, etc., require no other explanation than that given 
in the legend and other notes on the face of the charts. 

LEASING CHARTS. 

The leasing charts of Wicomico County, like those for Anne Arundel and Somerset 
counties, have been prepared under the direction of the hydrographic engineer of the 
Commission. These charts are constructed on polyconic projections and based on the 
United States standard datum of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. They are made on 
the scales of i part in 5,000 or i part in 10,000, as the needs of oyster culture may 
require. Anne Arundel County required 13 leasing charts, vSomerset County 12, and 
Wicomico County 2 to cover their oyster bottoms. 

These charts show all the oyster bars, crab bottoms, and clam beds and other 
boundaries established by the Commission, and also all boundaries of oyster lots leased 
for the purpose of oyster culture, thus making them comprehensive and valuable 
records of the results of the operations of the oyster-culture laws. 

The lots leased under the provision of the "old 5-acre law" are frequently of 
irregular shape, but the lots leased under the provision of the new oyster laws must be 
of rectangular shape by the terms of that act. For this latter purpose the leasing 
charts have been divided by parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude into small 



Survev of Oys/r/- Bars, ll'/coinico County, Md, 19 

rectangles of 1 acre or 5 acres, as may be best suited to area under consideration, and 
prospective leaseholders by the rules of the Commission are compelled to select whole 
rectangles as far as practicable. 

For reasons of the present changeable nature of the number of lots leased and the 
large number of charts required, the leasing charts are not likely to be published for 
some years, but they can be seen at any time on file at the offices of the Commission, 
in Annapolis. 

PROJECTIONS. 

The polyconic projections" covering Wicomico County waters are 2 in number 
and on the scale of i part in 10,000. They were constructed by draftsmen of the Coast 
and Geodetic Survey, who also plotted the sextant positions which determine the loca- 
tion of the legal boundaries of the oyster bars as dehneated by the Shell Fish Commission. 

A copy of each of these projections, with all the plotted positions of triangulation 
stations, shore line, sextant positions, and boundaries of oyster bars, was made under 
the direction of the hydrographic engineer of the Commission by pricking through with 
a sharp needle the intersections of the projection lines and all other points as plotted 
on the original sheets. 

These projections (in duplicate) are the original records of all oyster bar and other 
boundaries established by the Commission, one set being filed in the archives of the 
Coast and Geodetic Survey, at Washington, and the other set in the office of the Shell 
Fish Commission at Annapolis. 

PROGRESS MAPS. 

The progress map to be found at the end of this publication is on a scale of i part 
in 100,000, and shows in outline the work accomplished by the U. S. Coast and Geodetic 
Survey in Wicomico County and contiguous waters. It gives the scheme of all the 
charts and smooth projections constructed in connection with the survey, the location 
and names of all triangulation stations used as a basis for the surveying work, and the 
"boundaries of county waters" established by the Commission for the purpose of 
carrying out the laws of Maryland relating to oyster culture. 

Besides indicating the amount of work done by the Coast and Geodetic Survey 
in connection with the work of the Shell Fish Commission, this progress map will be of 
special value for index purposes to engineers and others searching for the particular 
chart or projection covering the locality of the oyster bars or landmarks that may be 
under consideration. 

The progress map' accompanying the "First Annual Report of the Maryland 
Shell Fish Commission" was prepared under the direction of the hydrographic engineer 
of the Commission. It is on the scale of i part in 400,000 and shows the outline of the 
tide-water counties of Maryland, with shaded areas to indicate the waters already 
covered by the operations of the oyster survey of Maryland. 



o For the scheme of these projections see the progress map at the end of this publication. 

* This map and report can be obtained by application to Maryland Shell Fish Commission, at 

Annapolis, Md. 



BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY WATERS." 

WATERS WITHIN TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF COUNTY. 

The laws of Maryland relating to oyster culture provide that "no person shall be 
permitted, by lease, assignment, or in any other manner, to acquire a greater amount 
of land than ten acres situated within the territorial limits of any of the counties, or 
one hundred acres in any other place." 

The boundary line' between the waters "within the territorial limits" of Wicomico 
County and the waters in "any other place," as established by the Shell Fish Com- 
mission for the purpose of carrying out the oyster laws, and delineated on the charts 
and the smooth projections of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, is identical with the 
boundary line between Wicomico County and the adjacent counties of Dorchester 
and Somerset; therefore technically all waters opened up for leasing with Wicomico 
County are within the "territorial limits" of that county. 

WATERS CONTIGUOUS TO COITNTY. 

The oyster laws of Maryland provide that a true and accurate delineation of all 
natural oyster bars shall be made on copies of charts of the U. vS. Coast and Geodetic 
Survey, "which said copies shall be filed in the office of the said Commissioners in the 
city of Annapolis," and "in the office of the clerks of the circuit courts for the respective 
counties wherein the grounds so designated may lie." 

For the purpose of carrying out the latter part of this section of the law and for 
the purpose of establishing the limits of the oyster-culture area to be opened up for 
leasing with each county surveyed, it is necessary for the Shell Fish Commission to 
establish a boundary line between the waters contiguous to but 'not within the terri- 
torial limits of each county, and the waters contiguous to but not within the territorial 
limits of adjacent counties. But technically, as explained under the preceding heading 
of "Waters within territorial limits of county," there are no "waters contiguous to 
the county" in Wicomico County; and therefore there are no waters opened up 
for Ifeasing with that county in which a person can lease "a greater amount than ten 
acres." 

" For a complete historical and legal description of ihe boundaries of the counties of Maryland, 
the valuable publication entitled "The Counties of Maryland — Their Origin, Boundaries, and Election 
Districts," prepared by Dr. Edward B. Mathews and ])ublished by the Maryland Geological Survey 
under the direction of Dr. William Bullock Clark, Superintendent, should be consulted, as the boundaries 
described in this publication have been established and technically defined for the purpose of carrying 
out the oyster laws of the State, and may or may not be correct for other purposes. 

''See "Charts of Natural Oyster Bars," published by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and the 
progress map at the end of this publication. 



I.ANDMARKvS (U. S. COAST AND GEODETIC vSURVEY TRIANGULATION 

STATIONS). 

EXI'LAN'ATlciN uF DESCRIPTKINS OF LANDMARKS. 

The oyster laws of Maryland aulhorizing the surveys to be made by the Shell Fish 
Coininission provide for "an accurate report of said survey, setting forth such a descrip- 
tion of landmarks as may be necessary to enable the said board, or their successors, to 
find and ascertain the boundary lines of said natural oyster beds, bars, and rocks, as 
shown by delineation on the maps and charts." The law of the United States author- 
izing the cooperation of the Department of Commerce and Labor in the survey of 
natural oyster bars of Maryland provides for the erection of "such structures as may be 
necessary to mark the points of triangulatioii, so that the same may be used for such 
future work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey as the said Bureau may be hereafter 
required to perform in prosecuting the Government coast sur\ev of the navigable waters 
of the United States located within the State of Maryland." 

Under the provisions of the sections of the laws stated above, the markings and 
descriptions of landmarks must be sufficient for the present and future needs of both 
the Government and the State. With this end in view, considerable work has been 
expended in erecting permanent monuments at the triangulation stations and in the 
proper description of their location. 

An effort has been made to arrange the descriptions of locations of landmarks in a 
uniform and logical manner. The descriptions start with the assumption that the 
individual seeking to find a landmark has only an indefinite idea of its location. They 
then gradually proceed from general descriptions of the surroundings of a landmark 
to the specific details of the character of the center and reference markings. An exam- 
ination of the descriptions themselves will best indicate the method followed. 

The heading of each description is the name by which the landmark or triangulation 
station is known and designated in all work and records of the Government and State. 

Under the heading of "Locality" the first paragraph gives a description of the 
general locality of the landmark and the serial number of the published "Chart of 
Oyster Bars" of Maryland which best shows its location. The published charts are on 
the large scale of i part in 20,000, and show the location of the triangulation stations 
so clearly that in many cases the written descriptions will not be required to find them. 

Under the same heading of "Locality" the second paragraph furnishes the descrip- 
tion of the immediate locality of the landmark and refers to the bearing and distance 
of standard cement monument marking the reference station, as it is the first object 
that is likely to catch the eye when the immediate vicinity of the desired station is 
reached. 

Under the heading of "Marks" a descri])tion is given of the character of the mark- 
ings of the "observed station" and the reference station. It will be noted that, although 



22 Survey of Oyster Bars, J Vi com ho County, Md. 

the "observed station" is the one "occupied" and "observed on" for horizontal angles, 
and also the one whose geographic position is computed, frequently' it is not marked as 
well as the reference station, and in many instances has only a pine stub to indicate 
its position. This is the case for the reason that the necessity of intervisibility of land- 
marks usually made it compulsory to locate these stations on edges of banks and ends 
of points of land, which in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries generally means that they 
will be washed away in a short period of years. The past experience of the Coast and 
Geodetic Survey in this region has shown the necessity of reference marks, if the frequent 
reestablishment of a new framework of triangulation is to be avoided. 

All the marks designated in the descriptions as "the center point of triangle on 
standard cement monument" are exactly alike. These monuments are made of cement, 
sand, and gravel, and are 2 feet long and 8 inches square at top and bottom. Their tops 
are all marked with the same brass mold and show a center hole surrounded b}' a 
triangle, with the letters "M. S. F. C." arranged around the vertex and the letters 
"U. S. C. S." underneath the base of the triangle. The center hole is always in the 
center of the top of the monument by construction, and if this is found to have been 
broken off without disturbing the bottom, the center of its square section can be used 
as the location of the station. 

All the "standard cement monuments," whether used for marking the "observed 
station" or "reference station," have been planted upright in exactly the same manner, 
with their tops projecting 3 or 4 inches above the surface of the ground. 

Therefore, as the above facts in reference to the "standard cement monuments" 
are a constant element in all cases, the repetition of these facts in the description of 
stations is made needless by this one statement. 

It is the expectation that the reference stations," the character of which is explained 
above, will be used in many cases in the near future in the place of the "observed sta- 
tions." This has been made possible by the careful measurements of direction and 
distance of these stations from the "observed station," which are recorded under the 
heading of "References." 

Under the heading of "References" are given the directions and distances of all 
objects that might be useful in locating the stations when the surface marks can not be 
found. It is also contemplated that for general purposes of topography, hydrography, 
or location of boundaries of oyster bars these references will be sufficient in many cases 
to relocate the position of an "observed station" or "reference station" when both of 
them have been destroyed. 

The first reference object given in the descriptions is always a triangulation station 
visible from the station being described. Its direction is taken as being 0° 00' 00", 
and the directions of all other objects are measured from it as an initial point, the angles 
being taken in a clockwise direction (left to right). 

The true bearing'' of the initial object is always given in parenthesis alongside the 
name. This furnishes means for the calculation of the bearings of any of the other 

"To obtain the geographic positions of any of the "observed stations" or of the "reference sta- 
tions," application should be made to the Superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey at Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

6 The mean magnetic variation for Wicomico County is 5° 45' west of north 1908) and is increasing 
at the rate of 3' yearly. 



Siiri'cv of Oys/cr Bars, Wiro/z/no Co/oi/v, Md. 23 

reference objects for the purposes of locating a station by compass bearings or for the 
relocation of corner buoys of oyster-bar boundaries by the method of horizontal angles 
described in this publication under the heading of "Boundaries of oyster bars." 

The distances in the last column under "References" are given in three different 
units, which vary according to their accuracy. The "miles" are statute miles and may 
be considered only as rough estimates. The "yards" are more accurate, but must be 
looked on as results generally obtained by pacing or careful estimating. The "meters," 
however, are accurate to the degree indicated by their decimals and in every case have 
been measured with a steel tape. In the same manner the accuracy of the directions 
are indicated by the refinement of direction with which they are recorded. 

DESCRIPTIONS OF TRI.\NGUL.\TION ST.\TIONS. 

COW. 

Locality. — Western shore Xanticoke River on Mink Point about '4 mile east of entrance to Cow 
Creek. See Charts Nos. 11 and u.) 

Observed station is on a very soft marsh point at the outer edge of water Ijushes about 5 yards 
back from the shore to the east, 15 yards from extreme end of point to the southeast, and 15 yards 
from the shore to the southwest. No permanent reference objects near station. Cement monument 
marking reference station is 8.68 meters northwest of observed station. 

Marks. — Observed station is a nail in a pine stub tlush with groimd. Reference station is center 
point of triangle on standard cement monument. 

References. — o 1 11 

"Frog" (S 6° 13' W) o 00 00 2 miles. 

A shanty 37 16 _. j^ mile. 

Reference station 129 ig 20 8. 68 meters 

White shanty 189 53 -..-_. i mile. 

A shanty : 209 52 ._ '2 mile. 

Tangent of land 217 43 __ '2 mile. 

Large red roof greenhouse 236 48 ._ .__ 2 ' 2 miles. 

Windmill 243 52 _. 2^4 miles. 

Gambrel of house 244 13 ._ 2 j4 miles. 

Chimney of large greenhouse 254 24 __ 1.% mA^%. 

Canning house stack 257 28 _^ i^ miles. 

Canning house stack ,- 275 26 _. I'imiles. 

Near corner of .\'anticoke wharf .- . 284 49 __ i '2 miles. 

Large red roof white house 297 32 .„ 2J2 miles. 

Large red roof white house . 299 24 .. 2I2 miles. 

Right tangent of Nanticoke woods- - - 310 15 .- 3 miles. 

Left tangent of Sandy Point 341 48 .. lU' miles. 

OKAY. 

Locality. — Western shore of Xanticoke River aliout ' s mile south of Swan Creek Cove on Marsh 
Point. (See Chart No. II.) 

Observed station is on marsh land about 2 feet above and 10 yards back from high-water mark. 
.\ shanty known as Insleys watch house stands about 33 yards north of observed station. No other 
permanent reference objects near station. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
Rejerences. — ° ' " 

Bivalve Church (N 84° 32' E) o 00 00 2j/i' miles. 

Chimney of red roof house 20 38 ... 2J/2 miles. 

Windmill tower 46 41 _. 2X rniles. 

Tangent of land 92 23 .. \% m\\ts. 



24 



Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 



References — Continued. ° ' 

Tangent of land 105 45 

Left side of watch house 249 17 

Right side of watch house 258 17 

Space between chimneys of large white 

house 340 43 

Tangent of Bivalve wharf 355 31 

Stack of canning house 359 12 

AR. 



150 yards. 
35 yards. 
35 yards. 



3-'. 



miles, 
miles, 
miles. 



Locality. — Western shore of Nanticoke River about i ' 2 miles northwest by west of Bivalve wharf. 
(See Chart No. 11.) 

Obsers'ed station is on marsh land between two small creeks about 40 yards back from high-water 
mark. It is about 43 yards northwest of the mouth of one creek, and 35 yards west-southwest of mouth 
of the other creek. No permanent objects near station. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

" Nanticoke Church " (S i3°34'E) o 

Right edge Sandy Point woods 23 

Smoke pipe of cabin near " Okav " 42 

Chimney on house 46 

Left tangent of first woods 81 

Left tangent of long thick woods 98 

Left edge short thick woods 134 u 

Chimney of red roof cabin 247 47 

Houses with several gables 262 18 

Right edge Wetipquin woods 274 37 

Chimney of house behind trees 302 43 

Windmill 319 03 

Stack of canning house ^ 320 15 

Chimney of house on Ragged Point 1 350 

Windmill 7,.;, 2 



.S3 



33 



3^ miles. 

4 miles. 

I '2 miles. 

■2 mile. 

2^ miles. 

I mile. 

1 mile. 
'-2 mile. 

3 miles. 
2!/4 miles. 

2 miles. 
2 miles. 
2 miles. 

2_!4 miles. 



57 3X miles. 



GOVER. 



Locality. — Northwestern shore of Nanticoke River i^ miles west-northwest of entrance to Wetip- 
quin Creek and 's mile north of cove named Perch Haul. See Chart No. 11.) 

Observed station is on a point of marsh covered with grass and water bushes, and is about i,s 
yards northwest from extreme end of point. A shanty stands among the bushes and small trees about 
200 yards to the west-southwest. A clump of about 50 pine trees stands about ' ^ mile west and another 
clump stands about X "li'e northwest. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

Bivalve Church fS 21° 30' E;. o 00 00 2^4 miles. 

Tangent of land 33 24 ._ 1 mile. 

Left side of opening in woods 72 

Two pine trees together 83 

Center of shanty 98 

Clump of pine trees 123 

Clump of pine trees 176 

Inside edge of cove 20 1 

Clump of small pine trees 255 

Tangent to point of land 269 

Left tangent of Sandy Hill wharf 276 

Large house 286 

Left edge of pine woods near Wetipquin 

Creek 328 13 2 miles. 



56 



2 miles. 

^4 mile. 

200 yards. 

'4 mile. 

20 __ ',4 mile. 

45 -- 100 yards. 

31 .. 4 mile. 

35 -- I '2 miles. 

02 __ 3 miles. 

27 .- 3X niiles. 



Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 
STREETT. 



25 



ith ground. Reference station is center 



Locality. — Northwestern shore of Nanticoke River on point on southwest side of entrance to 
Jacks Creek. (See Chart No. 11.) 

Observed station is on a marsh and grass point 7 yards west from its extreme end and about 4 
yards from each side of point to north and south. Cement monument marking reference station is 1 1.89 
meters west of observed station. 

Marks. — Observed station is nail in pine stub flush v 
point of triangle on standard cement monument. 

References. — ° 

"Earle" S 45° 01' E) o 

A shanty o 

Large white house with red roof 27 

Canning-house stack at Tyaskin 33 

Large white building 36 

Point of marsh 47 

First of four trees 13.5 

Reference station 164 

Point of marsh 25^ 

House on the other side of Jacks Creek 258 

Left tangent of Sandy Hill wharf 309 38 

White house 318 08 



41 
08 

4^ 
42 
33 
01 

39 
oi 
13 



I mile. 
I mile. 
2 '2' miles. 
1^4 miles. 
i}^ miles. 
100 yards. 

!.2 mile. 
1 . 89 meters. 
30 yards. 
34 mile. 
i}4 miles. 
I 'A miles. 



EARLE. 



I See 



Locality. — Southeast shore of Nanticoke River about one mile below Sandy Hill wharf. 
Chart No. 11.) 

Observed station is on sand and grass land between river and ])ine grove, and about 80 yards 
back and 5 feet above high-water mark. A white oak tree about 2 '2 feet in diameter stands between 
station and river and another and larger w-hite oak tree stands about 15 yards to the northeast. There 
is a shanty about 20 yards to the w-est and a sand beach nortliwest of the station. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Juliet" (S4i°05' W) o 

Nail in blaze in white oak tree (2 '2' feet in 

diameter) 88 

Nail in blaze in pine tree 160 

Nail in blaze in oak tree (2 ' i feet in diam- 
eter) 196 

Nail in blaze in pine tree 326 

Right tangent of woods on other side of 
Wetipquin Creek 358 



35 



52 



I '4 miles. 



30 13. 98 meters. 

00 19. 05 meters. 



40 13.95 meters. 

00 15. 76 meters. 



miles. 



JULIET. 



Locality. — Eastern shore of Nanticoke River on point on southwest side of entrance to Wetipquin 
Creek. (See Chart No. 11.) 

Observed station is on sand and marsh point about 100 yards southwest of entrance to Wetipquin 
Creek. It is about 10 yards back from high-water mark and about 5 yards outside of several small 
pine trees. Very dense pine woods stand about 100 yards to the south of the station. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Earle" (N 41° 04' E) o 

Nail in blaze in pine tree 29 

Near point of roof of oyster house 40 

Left edge of woods 64 

61807 — 09 — —4 



00 00 i^ miles. 

41 30 4-92 meters. 

05 .- 300 yards. 

21 -. 200 yards. 



26 



Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 



References — Continued. ° 

Nail in blaze in pine tree__- 71 

Nail in blaze in pine tree 98 

Right edge of woods 163 

Right tangent of Bivalve wharf 170 

Two-story white house ,. 210 

Two-story white house with red roof __ 228 

Opening in woods _ _ 230 

• Gray house at Jacks Creek 324 

Tangent of land 345 



Tangent of land 354 49 

POLE. 



5. 31 meters. 
S. 88 meters. 

200 yards. 

\14 miles. 

2]4 miles. 
^ mile. 
3 miles. 

i>^ miles. 

150 yards. 

150 yards. 



Locality. — Eastern shore of Nanticoke River on wharf off town of Bivalve, located about i '4 miles 
northeast of Ragged Point. (See Chart \o. 11.) 

Marks. — Observed station is flagpole on western peak of a house on wharf at Bivalve about 300 
yards from shore. 

References. — None necessary. 

BIVALVE CHURCH. 

Locality. — Eastern shore of Nanticoke River about ^s mile back from shore in town of Bivalve 
on main road leading to the steamer landing. (See Chart No. ii.) 

Marks. — Observed station s center of steeple on Bivalve Methodist Church. 
References. — None necessary. 

RAG. 

Locality. — Eastern shore of Nanticoke River on northern side Ragged Point. (See Chart No. 11.) 

Observed station is on a sandy point about 25 yards back from high-water mark and 100 yards 

northeast from extreme end of point. A grove of pine trees stands about 50 yards to the east and 

two groups of pine trees about 20 and 75 yards to the northeast. Two pine trees each 15 inches in 

diameter and 2X feet apart stand about 20 yards to the east of the station. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

Nanticoke Church (S i ° 46' E) o 

Left end of Sandy Point 29 

Chimney on house near " Cow" 51 

Large tree at left end of woods 130 

Left one of two trees (opposite shore) 169 

Flag pole on Bivalve wharf 201 

Smoke pipe on Bivalve wharf house 207 

Nail in stump of limb on pine tree 218 

Nail in blaze in double pine tree 258 

Nail in blaze in large pine tree 293 

Chimney on a white house. 303 

Windmill near large house 344 

Steeple on a barn 356 

Ivarge chimney on large flat-roof house 357 



00 00 I ^ miles. 

17 -_ 3K miles. 

48 -- 2 >2 miles. 

20 .. 3X fn'les 

56 .. 3^4 miles. 

II -_ i^ miles. 

14 -- I ^ miles. 

35 32. 78 meters. 

01 19. 66 meters. 



40 



43. 19 meters. 

T35 y!«-ds. 

}4 mile. 

I mile. 

1 mile. 



NANTICOKE CHURCH. 



Locality. — Eastern shore of Nanticoke River in town of Nanticoke, about }4 niile back from rivet 
and J^ mile northeast of Roaring Point. (See Charts Nos. 11 and 12.) 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of spire of church known as " Nanticoke Methodist 
Episcopal Church." 

References. — None necessary. 



Smvey of Oyster Bars, IViconiico Comity, Md. 



27 



CRAB. 

Locality. — Upper end and western shore of Tangier Sound on eastern side of Bloodsworth Island 
about 2yi miles southeast of Sharkfin Shoal Light and about halfway between Piney Island Cove 
to north and Great Cove to south. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is about 15 )'ards from high-water mark to the northeast and about 35 yards 
from the shore to the east. A small flat-roof crab house stands about 80 yards to the north-northeast 
and another crab house about twice the distance in the same direction. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
Rejerences. — ° ' " 

"Sharkfin Shoal Light" (N 45° 25' E) o 

Left end of large white house near Stump Point. 6 

End of roof of white house on bluff 31 

End of Deal Island wharf 53 

Large white house near red roof house 72 

Aspen tree near "Joshua" 88 

Tall pine tree 165 

Near end of flat-roof shanty 288 

Flag pole on Brown's crab house 299 



00 00 25 8 miles. 

II .. Tyi miles. 

36 -- 6>4 miles. 

03 -_ 3K miles. 

35 4X miles. 

06 -_ syi miles 

00 .. lyi miles. 

32 .. 80 yards. 

01 ._ 150 yards. 



SHARKFIN SHOAL LIGHT. 

Locality. — Northern end of Tangier Sound about equally distant from entrances of Hooper Strait, 
Fishing Bay, and Nanticoke River. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of black lantern on hexagonal screw pile known as 
"Sharkfin Shoal Light." 

Rejerences. — 

"Great Shoals Light" (N 81° 45' E) syi miles. 

HEAD. 

Locality. — Upper end of Tangier Sound, on southern part of peninsula known as " Bishops Head,'' 
situated between Hooper Strait and Fishing Bay. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Oljserved station is on eastern side of marsh land about X ™ilf northiof extreme southerly end of 
Bishops Head and about 15 yards east of two crab houses. It is about 15 yards southwest of high- 
water mark, behind water bushes which skirt the shore. Cement monument marking reference station 
is 13.41 meters west from observed station. 

Marks. — Observed station is a nail in a pine stub flush with ground. Reference station is center 
point of triangle on standard cement monument. 

Rejerences. — ° ' " 

"Sharkfin Shoal Light" (S 60° 41' E) o 

Crab-house flagstaff 50 

Large pine 97 

Reference station 139 

.\ear gable of 2^-story white house 140 

Chimney on white house 156 

Left side of crab house 166 

Right side of crab house 199 

Chimney on yellow house 208 

Chimney on end of white house 238 

Right side of Nanticoke Point woods 326 



00 00 2^ miles. 

30 -- - 3^ miles. 



-- 2 miles. 

40 13.41 meters. 

. - X mile. 

.. ^■i mile. 

-. 17-31 meters. 

-- t6. 1 1 meters. 

-- lyi miles. 

-- 3 miles. 



56 -. 7 X miles. 



28 Survey of Oyster Bars^ IVicumicu Comity^ Md. 

FROG. 

Locality. — West shore of mouth of Nanticoke River, on the southeasterly point of Clay Island, 
known as "Frog Point." (See Chart No. 12.J 

Observed station is on a marsh point about 25 yards back from extreme end of point, 20 yards 
from the east side and 25 yards from the west side. Water bushes abound back of station. There 
are no permanent reference objects near station. Cement monument marking reference station is 
13.10 meters north of observed station. 

Marks. — Observed station is nail in stub flush with ground. 
triangle on standard cement monument. 

References. — ° ' 

"Sharkfin Shoal Light" (S 41° 25' W) o 00 

Left tangent of Clay Island 3,s 17 

) Reference STATION 141 45 

Right tangent of Sandy Point 177 41 

Chimney on white house with black roof 179 12 

Chimney on near end of large red-roof white 

house 183 02 

Stack of canning house 184 

Land end of Nanticoke wharf 184 

End of Nanticoke wharf house _ . 186 

Chimney on ell end of main part of large red- 
roof white house 21 1 

Right tangent of Nanticoke Point woods 238 

Large square chimney on white house 

(Dames Quarter) 264 

Rock Creek poplar tree 284 

Flagstaff on Deal Island wharf 322 

ROAR. 



36 
36 



44 



17 



Reference station is center point of 



00 3^8 miles. 

- - I '4 miles. 

,50 13. 10 meters. 

_ . I'i mile. 

- - 2 '^ miles. 

. . 2X miles. 

.- 2}4 miles. 

-- 2% miles. 

2% miles. 

-- 2% miles. 

-. 2;'-^ miles. 

-- 4 miles. 



17 -- 3X miles. 

09 -- 434^ miles. 



17 



Locality. — Eastern shore of Nanticoke River on point of land known as Roaring Point, and about 
>4 mile north from outer end of Roaring Point wharf. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is 30 yards to the east of the extreme end of the point and on a sundv knoll about 
5 feet above high-water mark. It is about 20 yards back from high-water mark on the north side and 
about 40 yards back from high-water mark on south side of the point. Pine woods stand about i,50 
yards inshore from station. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Frog" (839° 02' W) o 

Two shanties _ 19 

One shanty 30 

A shanty - 71 

White shanty 98 

Barn steeple 117 

White shanty behind "Okay" 121 

Red roof house 144 

Twin trees on Ragged Point 159 

Chimney on white house 1 175 

Windmill 184 04 

Gambrel roof house 184 32 

White canning house stack 195 11 

Land end of wharf 271 58 

Large house 293 38 

Right tangent of Nanticoke Point woods 297 22 

Right tangent of Nanticoke wharf 304 5 2 

Lett tangent of Sandy Point 359 51 



2]4 miles. 

2 miles. 

20 .. I ^ miles. 

32 .- iX miles. 

53 .- iK miles. 

41 - 4>^ miles. 

25 ._ 2^^ miles. 

42 .. 7 X miles. 

30 _. 2 miles. 

23 .- i}4 miles. 



I mile. 

I mile 

yi mile. 

% mile. 

lyi miles. 

2^ miles. 

}i mile. 

i^ miles. 



Survey of Ovster Bars, IVicoinuv County^ Md. 29 

NANTI. 

Locality. — Eastern side of entrance to Nanticoke River about Vi mile northwest of Nanticoke Point. 
iSee Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on grassy land about 2 feet above and 20 yards back from high-water mark. 
It is about midway between edge of woods on Nanticoke Point and unpainted house near poplars '4 
mile to the north. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Sharkfin Shoal Light" (S 65° 14' \V) o 00 00 smiles. 

Tangent of Sandy Point 51 33 -_ 2 '4 miles. 

Left end of Nanticoke wharf 8g 45 ._ 2 miles. 

Near chimney of red roof house 96 51 _- J^ mile. 

Chimney of unpainted house .,_ 1 loi 08 .. J^ mile. 

Near chimney of house nearest woods 116 56 .. j^:^ mile. 

Tree high above woods 119 53 ._ 2, '-^ miles. 

Right end of heavy woods 134 03 _. iX miles. 

Right end of scant woods 147 11 .. J^ mile. 

Wild cherry tree 178 24 .. 50 yards. 

Left end of woods. 227 46 -. .'4 mile. 

Right end of woods 269 45 .. X ni'ls- 

Poplar tree Dames Quarter 307 28 __ 2^ miles. 

Tangent of Haines Point 330 55 __ 4 '2 miles. 

WHITE. 

Locality. — Eastern shore of entrance to Nanticoke River on western part of Nanticoke Point. 
(See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on a sand and grass point about 2 feet above high-water mark, 3 yards from 
the west side, 15 yards from the south end, and 20 yards from southeast side. Dense pine woods stand 
about 100 yards to the northwest, open marsh to the northeast, and a clump of about a dozen pine 
trees in marsh about ;' s mile to the northeast. There is a cove about 40 yards east of the station and 
another point of land about 100 yards to the southeast. Cement monument marking reference station 
is 16.63 meters north of observed station. 

Marks. — Observed station is a nail in a pine stub about 6 inches below surface or grovmd. Refer- 
ence station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Great Shoals Light " (844° 16' E) o 00 00 i^ miles. 

Poplar tree at Dames Quarter 65 08 ._ 2 'X miles. 

Tangent of Hall Point 86 06 __ 3 J^ miles. 

Tangent of Sandy Point. 164 17 __ 3 miles. 

Left end of pine woods 172 27 _. 100 yards. 

Right end of pine woods 213 21 -. 150 yards. 

Reference st.'vtion 227 29 00 16. 63 meters. 

Largest tree in clump of about 12 pines 247 23 .. :' g mile. 

Chimney on cabin on Ellis Point 279 05 _. 2 miles. 

White house 311 54 __ J-i mile. 

Point of land 335 02 _- 100 vards. 

ELLA. 

Locality. — North shore of Wicomico River on point at east side of entrance to Ellis Bay. (See 
Chart Noj 12.) 

Observed station is on a marsh point about i foot above high-water mark. It is about 10 yards back 
from the shore to the west, 20 yards back from the shore to the south, and 20 yards back from the 
shore to the north. No permanent reference objects near station. 



30 Surricy of Oyster Bars^ ]\'icoiuico Coiai/y, Md. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Great Shoals Light" (S9°49' W) o 

Tangent of land onMoUies Point 5 

Watch house 26 

Left of woods on Nanticoke Point :.. 44 

Right of woods on Nanticoke Point 52 

Chimney of white house 135 

Chimney of gray house. _ 142 

Chimney of white house 249 27 .. 200 yards 

Mount Vernon Church 257 

Chimney on middle of white house 274 

Chimney on cream and brown house 290 

Chimney on brown house 291 

Smoke pipe of watch house 306 



58 
28 
49 
03 



2 miles. 

1 mile. 

2 mile. 
2 miles. 
4 miles. 
2 miles. 
2 miles. 



^ miles. 
'4 miles. 

I mile. 

I mile. 

I mile. 



HOLLAND. 



Locality. — North shore of Wicomico River on Holland Point about 1 14 miles west of Mount Vernon 
Church, and i^ miles east of Ellis Bay. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on a marsh point about 20 yards north of high-water mark on its extreme end 
and about 100 yards west of a creek. A small cabin stands about 200 j'ards to the west. 
Marks. — -Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Wind" (S 28° 35' W) o 

Great Shoals Light 4 

Tangent of Mollies Point 18 

Left tangent of woods on Nanticoke Point 34 

Right tangent of woods on Nanticoke Point 39 

Chimney of house near Ellis Bay 46 

Chimney of cabin . Sf> 

Chimney on left end of large red roof building. . 9 1 

Large chimney on white house . 188 

Chimney of slate-colored house 230 

Chimney on middle of light-blue house 240 

Chimney on 2, '^-story light-green house.., 266 41 .. ^ mile. 

Right chimney on white house 317 



00 00 ij'4 miles. 

34 .. 2}4 miles. 

39 .- 2 miles. 

33 .. 2%' miles. 

28 .. 2 J^ miles. 

19 .. I, '4 miles. 

14 .. 200 yards. 

56 .. 3 miles. 



29 



'4 miles. 
'4 miles. 
I mile. 



mile. 



CHILD. 



Locality. — North shore of Wicomico River about J.^ mile north of Mount Vernon Church. (See 
Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on marsh land about 2 feet above and 15 yards back from high-water mark. 
There is an old wharf about 300 yards to the east and at a point about 100 yards to the north, two 
creeks join and form a single creek about 20 feet wide which flows into the river at a point about 15 
yards west of observed station. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Mount Vernon Church" (S 10° 15' E) o 

Chimney on white house in woods on opposite 

shore 3 

Chimney on white house on sand bluff on 

opposite shore 15 

Smoke pipe on large white house 19 

Chimney on brown house 48 



00 00 T/i mile. 

23 .. ^ mile. 

32 .. fi mile. 

55 }4 mile. 

14 .- I ^ miles. 



Snrvey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 31 

References — Continued. ° ' " 

Great Shoals Light 49 33 .. 3 f< miles. 

Tangent of Holland Point 62 44 __ iX miles. 

Fork of creek 183 08 __ 100 yards. 

Chimney of large house 206 39 .. 2 miles. 

Chimney of another large house 238 43 J^ mile. 

Mount Vernon wharf smoke pipe 293 12 iX™iles. 

Large white house in woods 324 03 __ J^ mile. 

Cream-colored house in woods 345 47 .. Xmile. 

CREEK. 

Locality. — -North shore of Wicomico River about yi, mile northwest of Mount Vernon wharf and 
about I Vl miles northeast of Mount Vernon Church. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on a marsh grass and sand point making out to the south and about 10 yards 
from the high-water mark of each of the three sides of the point. About 10 yards west of observed 
station is the mouth of a creek or drain 10 feet wide which runs only a short distance inland. There 
are several unpainted houses within 200 yards of observed station and a lone pear tree stands about 
200 yards to the north. There is a cultivated field about 150 yards back of station which extends to 
edge of woods % mile distant. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Mount Vernon Church" (S 30° 39' W) o 00 00 i>-s miles. 

Chimney on light-blue house with red blinds -. 13 46 .- i^ miles. 

Lone tree 72 59 ._ i mile. 

Chimney of old unpainted house 108 18 _. 300 yards. 

Chimney of light-green trimmed house 135 15 _. 200 yards. 

Pear tree 159 48 __ 200 yards. 

Left chimney of cream-colored house 218 06 .. 300 yards. 

Tangent of cove 224 __ .. 30 yards. 

Smoke pipe on Mount Vernon wharf 282 34 _. f^ mile. 

Chimney outside yellow house 312 04 .- J^ mile. 

Chimney on slate-colored house 352 57 __ f^ mile. 

END. 

Locality. — North shore of Wicomico River opposite Mount Vernon wharf. (See Chart No. 12.) 
Observed station is on marsh land about 3 feet above and about 100 yards north of high-water 
mark in river and about 75 yards to the northwest of a large creek which runs about 2 miles inland. 
Water bushes skirt shore around station. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — 011, 

"Jones" (S 60° 33' W) o 00 00 J< mile. 

Chimney on white house 7 24 __ i mile. 

Tangent of land 12 28 _. i mile. 

Near chimney of cream-colored house 68 25 X mile. 

Cupola on red barn. . T55 21 J^ mile. 

Old-style windmill _ 163 26 J^ mile. 

Chimney of Whitehaven Hotel 171 09 .. i^ miles. 

Webster's canning house 252 28 .. ^ mile. 

Right-hand chimney on gray house 273 42 ._ J^ mile. 

Left side of Mount Vernon wharf 294 13 .. ^ mile. 

Stack of Dashiell's canning house 304 52 .. J's mile. 

Middle attic window of white house 328 54 .. ^ mile. 

Chimney outside of yellow house.., 352 12 ._ ^ mile. 



32 



Survey of Oyster Bars^ Wicomico County, Md. 

WALNUT. 



Locality. — South shore of Wicomico River about 175 yards east of Mount Vernon wharf. (See 
Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on marsh land about 17 feet from shore and 50 yards west of a small creek. 
Several large walnut and locust trees stand about 250 yards south of station and 2 houses and 2 sheds 
about 250 yards to the southwest. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
Rejerences. — ° ' " 

" Jones" (S 83° 49' W) o 00 00 iij' mile. 

Right side of Mount Vernon wharf house 17 18 .. 175 yards. 

Chimney outside of white house 46 52 _- i mile. 

Left chimney of gabled house 53 47 _. i mile. 

Old-style windmill 121 00 _. ^ mile. 

Left end of roof of Whitehaven wharf 136 18 ._ i^ miles. 

Chimney on Whitehaven Hotel- 136 40 .. i}4 mW&s. 

Opening between pair of pine trees near White- 
haven 140 

Stack of Webster's canning house 187 

Opening between two walnut trees 274 

Chimney of Whitlock's house 307 

. Stack of Dashiell's canning house 352 



.- 1% n\'\\es. 

38 -. 300 yards. 

.. 200 yards. 

37 250 yards. 

23 -. 400 yards. 



JONES. 



(See 



Locality. — South shore of Wicomico River about J4 m'le west of Mount Vernon wharf. 
Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on a knoll about 25 feet above and 30 yards to south of high-water mark, and 
about 200 yards to the east of a cove. The knoll on which the station is located is the highest point 
on the shore in this locality. Several small cabins stand to the northward about 25 yards, and a large 
lone cedar tree about 35 yards to the southwest. 

Marks.- — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Ivee" (S 78° 54' W) o 

Large square chimney on four-gable house. 10 

Cedar tree 11 

Tangent of point of land 34 

Nail in blaze in cedar tree 62 

Chimney on light-green house on opposite 

shore 102 

White cupola in Whitehaven 148 

Old-style windmill 153 

Whitehaven Hotel chimney 155 

Large chimney on yellow house 178 

Chimney on end of brown house 216 

Chimney on white house 266 

Weeping willow 307 

Nail in blaze in cedar tree 318 



^ mile. 
yi mile. 
25 yards. 
yi mile. 
20. 30 meters. 

yi mile. 
2^ miles. 
lyi miles. 
2^^ miles. 

X mile. 

X mile. 

yi mile. 

yi mile. 



30 -- 31. 10 meters. 



IVEE. 



Locality. — Southeast shore of Wicomico River about % mile northwest of Mount Vernon Church. 
(See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on grass land about 1 foot above and 10 feet back from high-water mark. 
A small cove makes in about 100 yards east of station. A small lone pine stands about no yards to 



Survey of Oyslcr Bars, Wicomico Couiit,\\ Md. 33 

the east-southeast, and a sand bluff with pine trees about lOO yards to the southwest. Beyond the 
woods along the beach is a bluff 15 feet high upon which are several houses. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Mount Vernon Church" (S 22° 37' E) o 00 00 is mile. 

White house chimney 55 35 __ ^ mile. 

Chimney on end of white house 209 55 -. 2 miles. 

Chimney of green-trimmed house near "Creek". 245 28 __ iX' miles. 

Old-style windmill 264 47 ._ 2^ miles. 

Slate-colored house 276 22 .. }{ mWe. 

Chimney on middle of white house beyond 

woods 297 II -. I mile. 

Lone pine tree 317 53 ._ no yards. 

MOUNT VERNON CHURCH. 

Locality. — Southeast side of Wicomico River about ' .s mile back from the shore i H miles south- 
west of Mount Vernon wharf. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on main road in Mount \'ernc>n and is situated on the highest point in the 
vicinity. 

Marks. — Observed station is center of steeple of Mount Vernon Methodist Church. 

References. — None necessary. 

BALL. 

Locality. — Southeast shore of Wicomico River on a point of land about i mile northeast of Wingate 
Point. See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on a sand and grass point making out about 100 yards west of a sand bluff. 
A small creek empties into the river about 10 yards to the east, and three poplars stand about 100 
yards to the south. The extreme northern end of the point is about 35 yards from station and the 
western side is about 10 yards. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Holland" N 20° 03' W) o 00 00 ^2 mile. 

Middle one of five pines 107 09 .. 100 yards. 

Chimney on John Withlock's house 137 57 100 yards. 

. Left end of pine woods 145 33 __ '-2 niile- 

Right end of pine woods 165 04 __ 'smile. 

Chimney on white house 183 32 __ J^' mile. 

Third poplar 209 04 .- 100 yards. 

Chimney of brown house 248 27 ._ Smile. 

■ WIND. 

Locality. — Southeast shore of Wicomico River about '4' mile north of southern end of Wingate 
Point. I See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is about 30 yards from high-water mark of Wicomico River on the north side and 
20 yards from the west side. An oyster watchhouse stands about 100 yards to the east of the station. 
Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — o / // 

"Great Shoals Light" S 36° 29' W) o 00 00 lU miles. 

Tangent of Mollies Point 33 35 .. i mile. 

Left end of woods 46 12 .. ij^ miles. 

Right end of woods 51 45 -- ij^ miles. 

Tangent of Ellis Point 102 47 _. i mile. 

White house in woods . 157 19 .. 3 miles. 

Smoke pipe on watchhouse 185 49 -- 100 yards. 

Chimney of brown house 203 38 ._ '2 mile. 



34 



Siirvcv' of Oyster Bars, JJ^comico County, Md. 



Refeicnces — Continued. ° ' " 
Chimney of cream-colored house with brown 

trimmings 215 34 00 _ ', mile. 

Watchhousc- _ _ 308 41 _. j-4' mile. 

Chimney on 2>2'-story house 342 18 3 miles. 

Chimney on end of white house Dames 

Quarter 350 57 ._ 2 ', miles. 

LITTLE. 

Locality. — Southern shore of Monie Bay on second prominent point of marsh about '4' mile to the 
west entrance to Little Monie Creek. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on a marsh point covered with water bushes and reeds. It is about i foot 
above high-water mark, 7 yards from the west side, 10 yards from the east side, and about 50 yards 
from extreme end of point. No permanent reference objects near station. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Great Shoals Light" (S 83° 43' W) o 

Left side of woods on Nanticoke Point 19 

Right side of woods on Nanticoke Point 22 

Tangent of Wingate Point 34 

Chimney on red roof white house 60 

Chimney on near end of white house with 

brown trimmings 62 02 __ 1^/2 miles. 

Chimney on red roof white house with green 

blinds 62 43 .. I K miles. 

Left chimney of yellow house trimmed white 79 52 .. \)/i m\\^%. 

Middle of woods .., 80 ._ _. ij^ miles. 

Large brown house_ _. _ 93 55 __ ij^ miles. 

Mount Vernon Church _ _ 102 42 ,. ij^ miles. 

Tangent of point of land _ 165 47 __ l^ mile. 

Tangent of point of land __ 320 16 75 yards. 

Tangent of land 346 47 .. 3 miles. 



00 00 2 '4 miles. 

34 .. i% miles. 

24 .. 3',^ miles. 

39 .- \yi miles. 

13 -- -lYz miles. 



DOVE. 

Locality. — South shore of Monie Bay and about 'i mile east of entrance to Pigeon Creek. (See 
Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on marsh land about 10 yards back from high-water mark not far from water 
bushes which stand to the east. Cement monument marking reference station is 13.98 meters southeast 
from observed station. No permanent reference objects near station. 

Marks. — Obser\'ed station is a nail in pine stub flush with ground. Reference station is center 
point of triangle on standard cement monument. 

References. — ° ' " 

"Great Shoals Light" (N 57°4i'\V) o 

Left side of Nanticoke Point woods 6 

Left side of Roaring Point heavy woods. _, 19 

High lone pine showing above woods 23 

Tangent of Wingate Point 52 

Chimney of red roof house. 67 

Cliimney on yellow house with red gable 

roof . 84 

Mount Vernon Church 86 

Tangent of land 106 38 . _ 300 yards. 

Reference st.^tion 202 35 50 13. 98 meters. 

Chimney of white house with dark red 

trimmings 245 21 ._ iXmile.s. 



.56 
29 
36 
52 
39 



i^' miles. 
2j^ miles. 

5 miles. 

,S miles. 

2 miles. 

2 miles. 



3 miles. 
37 - - 3X miles. 



Stinu'v of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County,, Md. 

GREAT SHOALS LIGHT. 



35 



Locality. — Middle of entrances to Monie Bay and Wicomico River about halfway between Long 
Point to the south and Mollies Point to the north. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Marks. — Observed station is center of black lantern on square screw pile structure known as "Great 
Shoals Light." 

Rejerences. — 

"Sharkfin Shoal Light" (S 81° 50' W) 5J4 miles. 

SHORT. 

Locality. — Southern shore of entrances to Monie Bay and Wicomico River on Long Point and 
about -I mile south-southwest from Great Shoals Light. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on a sandy knoll on eastern side of entrance to Dames Quarter Creek about 15 
feet back from high-water mark on the north side and about 30 feet from east side of point It is on 
the highest part of the knoll which is about 5 feet above high-water mark. 

Marks. — Observed station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° ' " 

"Sharkfin Shoal Light" (S 89° 03' W) o 00 00 . 5|s miles. 

Tile pipe in cement ("Long" 1901) 23 57 45 63. 703 meters. 

Nanticoke wharf __ 67 57 ._ 4^ smiles. 

Left side of Nanticoke woods _ 69 13 _ 2 miles. 

Yellow house with red blinds. - _ 74 53 - — 3X niiles. 

Left tangent of Wingate Point 124 13 -_ 238 miles. 

Chimney on red roof white house 132 39 __ 3 miles. 

Near chimney of yellow house 136 40 -- 3 miles. 

Chimney on red trimmed house- - 212 49 __ 2 miles. 

Left tree at Dames Quarter 260 37 _ _ >^' mile. 

Chimney on white barn 279 45 _- 300 yards. 

Left chimney on white house 320 05 __ 200 yards. 

Chimney on yellow house _ 341 35 _. 200 yards. 

ROOM. 

Locality. — Upper end and eastern shore of Tangier Sound on Halls Point. (See Chart No. 12.) 
Observed station is on a bluff 15 feet high about 5 yards back from its edge. It is about 25 yards 
east of a clump of mulberry trees and about 15 yards north-northwest of a barn. Locust and mulberry 
trees stand all about station and locust bushes along the edge of the bluff. A wagon trail runs parallel 
to the shore about 15 yards back of station. Cement monument marking reference station is 21.45 
meters south-southwest of observed station and almost in line with a large mulberry tree. 

.Marks. — Observed station is nail in center of stub with top flush with ground. Reference station 
is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 

References. — ° ' " 

"Sharkfin Shoal Light" (N 70° 00' W) o 00 00 _ . _ 2 >4 miles. 

Gable on near side of red roof on white 

house on Bishops Head - 3 01 _ similes. 

Near end of roof of large 2 >^-story house. _ 12 53 _ _ 7 X miles. , 

Left tangent of Clay Island 39 18 _ _ 3 X miles. 

Left side of Sandy Point woods 70 08 . 4 miles. 

Roaring Point wharf ' 85 22 __ 5 miles. 

Near chimney on end of large red roof 

white house _ . 94 36 _ _ 4X miles. 

Right side of Nanticoke woods. no 28 .. _ 3K miles. 

Mount Vernon Church 127 18 ., 7 miles. 

Near corner of barn ' .- 137 06 15. 96 meters. 



36 Survey of Oyster Bars^ JViconiia 

References — Continued. ° ' 

Right-hand comer of barn 152 08 

Reference station 268 30 

Large cedar tree 276 30 

Two-inch iron pipe 279 38 



County^ Md. 



._ 18. II meters. 

00 2 1 . 45 meters. 

._ 100 yards. 

30 9-1 meters. 



00 00 2 '2 miles. 

57 -. 20 yards. 

38 _- 4 J^ miles. 



HAINES. 

Locality. — Upper end and eastern shore of Tangier Sound on Haines Point, about 5 ,s mile norlli of 
Deal Island wharf. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is on sand and grass point about 20 yards back and ,s feet above high-waler iiuirk. 
Locust and water bushes stand about 20 yards to the north and the left edge of this clump is about on 
line with Sharkfin Shoal Light. A barbwire fence runs 3 yards east of station. Cement monument 
marking reference station is 9.64 meters east of observed station. 

Marks. — Observed station is nail in pine stub in center of a drain tile with top broken ulT licUiw 
surface. Reference station is center point of triangle on standard cement monument. 
References. — ° 

"Sharkfin Shoal Light" (X 45° 58' W) o 

Left of bushes 39 

Left of Sandy Point woods ,S3 

Chimney of 2'2-story white house trimmed 

with red 75 

Chimney of unpainted house 85 

Chimney on end of red cottage trimmed 
white 99 

Reference st.\tion . 123 

Pine tree ^ 148 

Large square chimney on red house - i,S2 

Right one of 5 large pines 184 

Half way between chimneys on store on 

Deal Island 1. 213 

Deal Island Church 217 

Black gum tree 223 

Right end of Deal Island wharf 234 

Hooper Straits Light 343 



04 
49 



. ^ Vi mile. 

. _ 330 yards. 

_ 3^ mile. 

40 9. 64 meters. 

30 --14 meters. 

•_ . 400 yards. 

300 yards. 



J4 mile. 

I '^ miles. 

6. 70 meters. 

10 _ . '^ mile. 

34 _ _ 7 H' miles. 



49 



DEAL ISLAND CHURCH. 

Localitv. — Deal Island on main road about '4 mile from tlic sliore anil about '4 mile south of 
Laws Thoroughfare. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Marks. — Observed station is center of steeple on Deal Island Methodist Churcli. 
References. — None necessary. 

BAR. 

Locaiilr. — Eastern shore of Tangier Sound on western side of Deal Island, about 1 mile nortlnvcsl 
of entrance to Lower Thoroughfare and '2 mile south of Middle Creek. (See Chart No. 12.) 

Observed station is about 10 yards east of high-water mark on sand and grass land liack of sandy 
Beach. The first of many tree stumps which are submerged at high water commence about 100 yards 
to the north and cat-tails grow abundantly back of station. Cement numument marking reference 
station is 6. 09 meters east of observed station. 

Marks. — Observed station is a nail in pine stul) Hush with ground. Reference station is center 
point of triangle on standard cement monument. 

References. — ° 

"Sharkfin Shoal Light" (N 19° 40' \V) o 00 00 4 'i miles. 

Tangent of Haines Point-. 27 29 .. 2i/^iTiiles. 



Survey of Oysfer Bars, Jl'iconiiro Coiiiily^ Md. 



37 



References — Continued. ° 
Flag pole on large building on Deal Island 

wharf 28 

Middle chimney of large gray building 37 

Chimney on white house 1 ^g 

Middle chimney on red roof white house 79 

Reference station 107 

Chimney on white house 118 

Chimney on dark gray house 161 

Right chimney on white four-gabled house 

with red roof 176 



45 _- 2 miles. 

41 _- I mile. 

54 _ - 400 yards. 

,Si . - ;'s mile. 

10 00 6. og meters. 

43 - - 400 yards. 

,S7 .- ,^00 yards. 



39 



% mile. 



BOUNDARIES OF OYSTER BARS. 

EXPLANATION OF DESCRIPTION OF BOUNDARIES. 

The oyster bars of Wicomico Count}^ are 15 in number, and their total area, as 
marked out by buoys placed by the hydrographic engineer of the Commission, is 1,638 
acres. As provided by law, the boundaries of the oyster bars are all straight lines, but 
they inclose areas of all shapes from triangles to complicated eight-sided figures, and of 
all sizes from 1,123 acres to 4 acres." The sides vary in length from 120 to 3,800 yards, 
and in some cases the corners of the boundaries are practically at the triangulation 
stations from which they are located, while in other instances they are over 7,500 yards 
from the landmarks most available for the purpose of fixing their positions. 

The varied characteristics of the legal boundaries of the oyster bars indicated by 
the above statement, together with the complicated requirements of the law under 
which the survey has been made and the magnitude of the work with the consequent 
need of fixed and uniform methods, have made the problem of describing the boundaries 
one of considerable difficulty and importance. 

The boundaries of the oyster bars of Maryland, as estabhshed by the Shell Fish 
Commission and delineated on the Coast and Geodetic Survey charts and projections 
and on the leasing charts of the Commission, are technically defined and described by a 
method somewhat different from that used in other oyster sur\'eys. But it is believed 
that the forms finally adopted will fulfill all needs of the survey for both the present and 
future. 

The descriptions have been arranged in tabular form, thus avoiding many hundred 
repetitions of the same words by making one explanation of the tables sufficient for all 
oyster bars in the county. 

At the top of each tabular form is given the legal name of the oyster bar to be 
described, its general locality, and the serial number of the "Charts of Oyster Bars" of 
Maryland on which its legal boundaries are shown. 

The first column, under the heading of "Corner of bar," gives the number corre- 
sponding to the corner of the boundary as shown on the charts and to the number on 
the buoy marking the actual corner of the bar. The numbers of the corners have been 
assigned by naming the southernmost point No. i, thence proceeding in a clockwise 
direction around the bar; but where a corner of one oyster bar is identical with the 
corner of the boundaries of one or more other oyster bars only the number of the corner 
of the oyster bar being described in the table is given in this column. 

The second and third columns, under the headings of " Latitude" and " Longitude," 
give the geographic positions of the corners. These positions have been adopted by the 

" For similar statistics for other counties that have been surveyed, see Appendix C of this "publi- 
cation. 

38 



Siirvev of Oystrr />a/s, II 'iconiico Coniily^ Md . 39 

Commission as the primary technical definition of the corners, and should be considered 
as final in case of a dispute arising from discrepancies caused by other means of location. 
The latitudes and longitudes given in these columns are based on the United States 
standard datum of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and the points thus defined can be 
relocated from distant triangulation stations of the Survey, even though all the land- 
marks and buoys originally used for their location have been destroyed by natural causes 
or by acts of vandals desiring to defeat the purposes of the oyster laws of Maryland. 

The fourth and fifth columns, under the general heading of "True bearing"" and 
the specific headings " Forward" and " Back," give bearings measured from a true north- 
and-south line. The three "Forward" bearings are from the corner of the boundary 
designated in the first column to the triangulation stations named on the corresponding 
lines in the last column, and the three " Back" bearings are from these same stations in 
the last column to the corresponding corner of boundary in the first column. The 
difference in minutes of arc between the forward and back bearings shown in some cases 
is actual and not accidental, and is due to the fact that the computations took into 
account the spheroidal shape of the earth. 

The sixth column, under the heading of "Distance," gives the three computed 
distances in yards from the corner of the bar noted in the first column to the three 
triangulation stations named on the corresponding lines in the last column, and vice versa. 

The seventh and last column, under the heading of " U. S. C. & G. S. triangulation 
station," Ogives the names of the landmarks from which were computed the correspond 
ing "Latitude," "Longitude," "True bearing," and "Distance" of the "Corner of the 
bar" designated in the first column. A full description of the location and markings 
of these triangulation stations is given in another part of this publication, under the 
heading of "Descriptions of triangulation stations." 

SURVEYING METHODS FOR RELOCATION OF BOUNDARIES. 

There are a number of methods that can be used in the relocation of the actual 
boundaries of the natural oyster bars as technically described in this publication and 
delineated on the published charts of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the leasing 
charts of the Shell Fish Commission. 

The following brief descriptions of five of these more or less difi'erent methods 
assume a certain amount of experience and knowledge on the part of the engineer in 
the particular kind of surveying under consideration, and are only intended as reminders 
of ways and means that can be used. 

There are two problems that are likely to present themselves to those interested in 
the boundaries of natural oyster bars. One, to determine whether the buoys marking 
the corners have been dragged or otherwise moved from their correct positions, and the 
other, to relocate or reestablish a buoy at the point from which it was removed. The 
different ways of solving these two problems partly depend upon the instruments 
possessed by the engineer and his assistants and parti}' on his training and experience. 

" The mean magnetic variatum for Wicomico County is 5° 45' west of north (igo8), and is increas- 
ing at the rate of 3' yearly. 

6 Geographic ])ositions of these triangulation stations can be obtained by application to the Super- 
intendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey at Washington. 



40 Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 

(i) Triangulation. — This method is the one that will give the greatest accuracy, 
but on account of its requiring special data and instruments, and being an operation 
rarely used by engineers not engaged in geodetic surveying, it is recommended only for 
cases in dispute that can not be settled satisfactorily by some other method. An 
explanation of this class of work would be too long for a report of this sort, and those 
not familiar with this method are referred to the publications on the subject by the 
Coast and Geodetic Survey. 

(2) Hydrographic. — This method is the most simple and satisfactory one that can 
be adopted if the surveyor can obtain the use of the necessary instruments and assistants. 
It is the one best suited for the work of the engineers of the Commission in relocating 
corners of boundaries, as it gives results of the accuracy ordinarily required and is rapid 
in execution. Besides, it has the advantage of being available whenever three triangu- 
lation stations of suitable relative positions are visible from the offshore points needing 
relocation. 

Most navigators and others familiar with the use of a sextant are well acquainted 
with the graphic three-point method of fixing a position on water, and only a brief 
description of the operation will be stated. 

In the case where there is only one engineer having a single sextant, the three-point 
method can be used if the two angles determining the position of a buoy are first 
derived from the "Forward" bearings given in the tabular forms describing the bound- 
aries of the oyster bars. For example, take "Upper Stake" bar, which is the first 
one described in this pubHcation, and assume that "Corner No 3," is to be examined 
as to its position. The angle between the two landmarks "Juliet" and "Earle" as 
determined from right to left from the forward bearings from this corner is 92° 57' and 
the angle between "Earle" and "Streett" is 66° 51'. Having these two angles, the 
engineer proceeds to the buoy of doubtful location and measures the actual sextant 
angles between the landmarks for which the calculations were made. If the meas- 
ured and calculated angles do not agree the buoy is not in its correct position and the 
boundary corner must be relocated. This is accomplished by moving the boat about 
until a point is reached where the angles do agree, and this point being the desired 
location, the buoy can be placed in its correct position. 

If the engineer can obtain the use of both a sextant and a three-arm protractor 
("position finder"), the availability of the hydrographic method is increased, as the use 
of the protractor is essential in case of the washing away or destruction of one or more 
of the landmarks originally used in describing the boundaries. Under these circum- 
stances, any three landmarks of suitable relative position' that are visible from the 
point to be located can be utiUzed. For example, the engineer can proceed to the buoy 
of doubtful position and measure the two adjacent sextant angles between the three 
landmarks selected. These two angles are set off on the three-arm protractor and the 
actual position of the buoy plotted on the chart by shifting the protractor about until 
the edge of each of the three arms passes through the center of the symbols on the 
chart marking the position of the three landmarks selected. The center of the hub of 
the protractor will indicate on the chart the actual position of the buoy, and if the 
point thus obtained does not coincide with the true position of the corner of the bound- 
ary as given on the chart, the surveyor can proceed to locate the buoy correctly by 
reversing the operation. This is done by placing the center point of the hub of the 



Su7-vev of Oyster Bars, Wicoviico County, Md. 41 

protractor over the corner of the boundary in question and measuring on the chart the 
two adjacent protractor angles between the three selected landmarks. One of the 
angles thus obtained is set on the sextant and the boat moved about until the two land- 
marks are shown by the sextant to subtend the same angle obtained from the pro- 
tractor. The second angle is then placed on the sextant and the same operation gone 
through, and so on, first using one angle on the sextant then the other until a point is 
reached where both observed sextant angles are practically identical with the pro- 
tractor angles. The point thus located is the desired one and the buoy can be placed 
to mark the true position of the corner of the boundary in question. 

If the engineer possesses two sextants and a protractor, this problem is far easier 
of solution, as the two angles can be set ofif on separate sextants and the observer can 
quickly find the desired point where they agree with the protractor angles by using one 
sextant after the other without the need of resetting either. 

If there are two observers, two sextants, and a protractor, it can be seen that the 
best conditions for both rapid and accurate hydrographic locations of points are attained ; 
in fact, this is the method by which the buoys at the corners of the boundaries were 
originally placed by the hydrographic engineer to the Commission. 

(3) Magnetic hearings from offshore. — This method of fixing a position on water is 
a simple and well-known one in navigation. It is available to anyone having a boat 
compass and will be of special use to the State fishery force in investigating cases where 
buoys are supposed to have been moved for illegal purposes. 

In the case where a buoy is supposed to have been moved from its true position 
the observer takes compass bearings to the three landmarks given in the last column of 
the tables opposite the boundary corner in question. These bearings are then corrected 
for the local declination," and if the results agree with the published bearings the buoy 
is correctly located. 

In the case where the buoy is not in its correct position, or has disappeared alto- 
gether, the desired point can be determined by maneuvering the vessel until the cor- 
rected bearings agree with the ones in the tabular descriptions, when the buoy can be 
anchored in its proper location. 

In the case where the landmarks for which the bearings are published have been 
destroyed or washed away, any landmarks whose positions are indicated on the charts 
can be used by getting their bearings directly from the chart by parallel rulers or a pro- 
tractor and then applying them in the same manner as the ones published in the tables. 

(4) Magnetic bearings from shore. — This method will be of special value to engineers 
having an ordinary surveyor's compass. The compass can be set over the point mark- 
ing a " triangulation station" on shore, the name of which is given in the last column 
opposite the "corner" in question. The instrument is then set at the corresponding 
"back" bearing (corrected for local magnetic declination) given in the fourth column 
of the tables opposite the "corner" in question, and the direction thus determined will 
give one range on which the desired point must be located. The compass can then be 
moved to a second triangulation station and another range located in a similar manner. 
The intersection of these two range lines will give the desired point; but in general it 
should be checked by an additional range line determined from a third station. 

" The mean magnetic variation for Wicomico County is 5° 45' west of north (1Q08) and is increasing 
at the rate of 3' yearly. 



42 



Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 



(5) Horizontal angles measured at landmarks. — This process is a modification of the 
triangulation method, and will be useful to engineers who have a transit and desire 
considerable accuracy. 

The instrument is placed over a " triangulation station," the name of which appears 
in the last column of the tabular description opposite the "corner" in question. The 
telescope is then pointed to the landmark indicated in the "Descriptions of landmarks" 
as having a direction of 0° 00' 00" from the triangulation station being occupied by the 
transit. The tabular description of the boundaries is next examined and the "back" 
bearing of the questionable boundary "corner" from the landmark being occupied is 
taken out. The angle calculated from this "back" bearing and the bearing given in 
parentheses alongside the zero landmark in the "Descriptions of landmarks" is then 
set off on the transit, and a range line established on which the desired point must be 
located. A similar process is then carried on at a second station, and so on until the 
position of the buoy is satisfactorily fixed. 

BOUND.-VRIES OF NATURAL OYSTER BARS. 

UPPER STAKE. 

{Nanticoke River — Chart No. it.) 



Cor- 




latitude 


Longitude 




True I 
Forward 


earing 




Distance 


U. S. C. & G. S. triangula- 


of 
bar 




Back 




tion station 


I 


38 


20 06. 36 


75 52 59- 76 


S 

N 
N 


01 E 
59 07 E 

3 51 E 


N 
S 
S 


01 
59 08 

3 51 


W 
W 

w 


Yards. 
811 
1718 
2209 


Juliet. 
Earle. 
StreetL 


2 


38 


20 08. 36 


75 53 06. 16 


S 
N 
X 


II 10 E 

63 45 E 

8 28 E 


N 
S 
S 


1 1 10 

63 46 

8 28 


w 
w 
w 


895 
1834 
2160 


JulieL 
Earle. 
Streett. 


3 


38 


20 22.41 


75 53 07- 20 


s 

N 
N 


8 27 E 
78 36 E 
II 45 E 


N 

S 

s 


8 27 
78 36 
II 45 


w 
w 
w 


1366 
1706 
1703 


Juliet. 
Earle. 
Streett. 


4 


38 


20 19.59 


75 52 32.41 


N 

N 
S 


59 59 E 
78 39 W 
29 56 w 


s 

s 

N 


59 59 
78 40 
29 56 


w 

E 
E 


864 
3169 
1449 


Earle. 
Gover. 
Juliet. 



WETIPQUIN. 
(Nanticoke River — Chart No. 11.) 



I 38 19 47.59 I 75 53 16.03 S 67 52 E N 67 53 \V 

j N 51 35 E S 51 36 W 
' N 48 52 W S 48 52 E 



38 20 01.90 75 53 21. 70 



3 38 20 08. 36 I 75 53 06. 16 



S 41 37 W N 41 37 E 
N 63 25 E S 63 26 W 

N 55 51 W S 55 52 E 



S II 10 E 
N 63 45 E 
N 8 28 E 



Yards. 

470 j Juliet. 
2433 i Earle. 
2587 I Gover. 

883 Juliet. 
2300 Earle. 
2173 ■ Gover 



N 


1 1 


10 


W 


895 


Juliet. 


S 


63 46 


W 


1834 


Earle. 


S 


8 


28 


w 

1 


2160 


Streett. 



Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 

BOUNDARIES OF NATURAL OYSTER BARS — Continued. 

SAND LUMP. 

{Nanticoke River — Chart No. ii.) 



43 



Cor- 


Latitude 


Longitude 


True bearing 


Distance 


U. S. C. & G. S. triangula- 
lion station 


of 
bar 


Forward 


Back 

• 




/ 


/ 




Yards. 




1 


38 IK 45.20 


75 53 49-8° 


N 34 40 E 
N 63 18 W 
S 10 25 W 


S 34 40 W 
S 63 19 E 
N 10 25 E 


2342 

2780 

536 


Juliet. 

Ar. 

Pole. 


2 


38 18 52. 18 


75 53 47-54 


N 36 57 E 
N 68 16 W 
S II 36 E 


S 36 58 W 
S 68 17 E 
N II 36 W 


2116 

2739 

779 


Juliet. 

Ar. 

Pole. 


3 


38 18 48. 82 


75 53 42-02 


N 31 57 E 
N 67 16 W 
S 25 04 W 


S 31 58 w 
S 67 17 E 
N 25 04 E 


2127 
2918 

717 


Juliet. 

Ar. 

Pole. 



HICKORY NUT. 
{Nanticoke River — Chart No. 11.) 






, 


, 


/ 


, 


Yards. 




I 38 


18 .35- 22 


75 53 .50.58 


N 30 52 E 

N 57 14 W 
S 21 47 w 


S 30 53 W 
S 57 14 E 

N 21 47 E 


2637 

2930 

206 


Juliet. 

Ar. 

Pole. 


2 , 38 

1 


18 38.40 


75 54 08. 15 


S 52 39 E 
S 40 10 E 
N 53 29 W 


N 52 39 W 
N 40 10 W 
S 53 29 E 


491 
2821 
2485 


Pole. 

Juliet. 

Ar. 


3 , 38 


18 45 . 20 


75 53 49- 80 


N 34 40 E 
N 63 18 W 
S 10 25 W 


S 34 40 W 
S 63 19 E 
N iS 25 E 


2342 
2780 
536 


Juliet. 

Ar. 

Pole. 



OLD WOMANS PATCH. 
{Nanticoke River — -Chart No. 11.) 



/ // 


, „ 




/ 


Yards. 




I 38 18 21.60 


75 54 II. 80 


N 42 53 W 
S 83 47 W 
vS 15 20 W 


S 42 54 E 
N 83 46 E 
N 15 20 E 


2792 

, 3241 

1655 


Ar. 

Okay. 

Rag. 


2 38 18 29.24 


75 54 16. 24 


N 44 54 W 
vS 78 55 W 
S 9 47 w 


S 44 55 E 
N 78 54 E 
N 9 47 E 


2524 
3164 
1880 


Ar. 

Okay. 

Rag. 


3 38 •« 31-58 


75 54 06. 00 


N 50 14 W 
S 78 30 W 
S 17 02 W 


S 50 15 E 
N 78 28 E 
N 17 01 E 


2672 
3446 
2020 


Ar. 

Okay. 

Rag. 



44 



Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 

BOUNDARIES OF NATURAL OYSTER BARS — continued. 

CEDAR SHOAL. 

{Nanticoke River — Chart No. ii.) 



Cor- 






















True bearing 
















ner 


Latitude 




Longitude 


















Distance 


u. s. c 


&G. S 
tion sta 


triangula- 


of 








ion 


bar 


















Forward 




Back 
















o 


, 




, 





/ 


, 







/ 






c 


, 




Yards. 






I 


38 


18 


09 


96 


75 


54 '2 


74 


N 
N 
S 


37 
89 
18 


34 
■5 
56 


w 
w 
w 


s 
s 

N 


37 
89 
18 


35 
16 
56 


E 
E 
E 


3075 
3197 
1272 


Ar. 

Okay. 

Rag. 








2 


38 


18 


12 


02 


75 


54 28 


56 


N 
S 
S 


31 
89 



34 

25 
22 


w 
\v 

E 


s 

N 
N 


31 
89 



36 
24 


E 
E 
W 


2779 
2778 
1272 


Ar. 

Okay. 

Rag. 








.•? 


38 


18 


24 


37 


75 


,54 31 


60 


N 

S 

s 


35 
80 

3 


09 
38 
01 


W 
W 
E 


S 

N 

N 


35 
80 

3 


09 

37 
00 


E 
E 
W 


2387 
2733 
1691 


Ar. 

Okay. 

Rag. 








4 


38 


18 


=7 


58 


75 


54 20 


33 


N 

S 


42 
79 


14 
33 


W 
W 


S 

N 


42 
79 


14 
32 


i 


2490 
3047 


Ar. 
Okay. 

























s 


6 


41 


w 


N 


6 


41 





1809 


Rag. 









LONG SHOAL. 
(Nanticoke River — Chart No. 11.) 





, 


// 


, 


/ 


, 


Yards. 




I 


38 18 


17. 84 


75 54 55-96 


N 18 30 W 


S 18 30 E 


2290 


Ar. 










S 83 45 W 


N 83 44 E 


2061 


Okav. 










S 26 38 E 


N 26 37 W 


1643 


Rag. 


2 


38 18 


27.04 


75 54 54- 42 


N 22 25 W 


S 22 25 E 


2013 


Ar. 










S 75 37, W 


N 75 37 E 


2152 


Okay. 










S 21 2f E 


N 21 21 W 


1908 


Rag. 


3 


38 18 


26. 22 


75 .54 37- 60 


N 32 44 W 


S 32 45 E 


2246 


Ar. 










S 78 42 W 


N 78 41 E 


2587 


Okav. 










S 8 04 E 


N 8 04 W 


1768 


Rag. 



CHERRY TREE. 
{Nanticoke River — Chart No. 11.) 



I 38 18 06.21 i 75 54 38. 





, 


, 


: Yards. 




20 


N 25 03 W 


S 25 04 E 


2830 


Ar. 




N 86 II W 


S 86 12 E 


2526 


Okav 




S 13 47 E 


N 13 47 W 


1 108 


Rag. 



2 38 18 13. 16 


75 54 44- 72 N 23 46 W 
S 88 23 W 
S 18 27 E 


S 23 46 E 
N 88 22 E 
N 18 27 W 


2545 
2349 
1381 


Ar. 

Okay. 

Rag. 


3 38 18 15.00 


75 54 33- 76 , N 30 09 W 
S 87 13 W 
S 6 03 E 

1 


S 30 09 E 
N 87 12 E 
N 6 03 W 


2621 
2642 
1387 


Ar. 

Okay. 

Rag. 



Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 

BOUNDARIES OF NATURAL OYSTER BARS — continued. 

WILSON SHOALS. 

{Lower Nanticoke River — Chart No. ii.) 



45 



Longitude 



True bearing 



38 17 04.58 I 75 55 15.02 



38 17 06.76 75 55 27.60 



3 38 17 55. 16 75 55 18.02 



4 38 18 03.50 75 54 52 



5 38 17 44. 10 75 54 50. 18 



S 36 46 E 
N SI 08 E 
N 34 29 W 

S 41 55 E 
N 59 31 E 
N 29 05 W 



N 36 44 W 
S 51 08 W 
S 34 30 E 

N 41 55 W 
S 59 32 W 
S 29 05 E 



Yards. 

2221 

1597 
2724 

2490 
1830 



Nanticoke Church. 

Rag. 

Okay. 

Nanticoke Church. 

Rag. 

Okay. 



N 69 44 W 
S 2 42 E 
S 61 59 E 


S 69 44 E 
N 2 42 W 
N 61 58 W 


1559 
4131 
1498 


Okay 
Roar. 
Rag. 


N 16 57 W 
,N 83 04 W 
S 33 33 E 


S 16 58 E 
S 83 05 E 

N 33 33 W 


2776 
2148 
1 182 


Ar. 

Okay. 

Rag. 


S 60 25 E 
N 44 31 E 

N 67 28 W 


N 60 24 W 
S 44 32 W 
S 67 29 E 


670 
2150 
2384 


Rag. 
Pole. 
Okay 



ROARING POINT EAST. 
{Lower Nanticoke River — Chart No. 12.) 






f, 


/ " ! 


, 




, 


Yards. 




I 38 


15 37-80 


75 55 33- 62 , S 

N 
N 


34 23 E 
50 18 E. 
65 17 W 


N 
S 
S 


34 22 W 
50 19 W 
65 18 E 


4041 
791 
1942 


Nanti. 
Roar. 
Cow. 


2 38 


15 46.36 


75 55 49- 20 N 

N 
N 


78 01 E 
30 35 E 
68 50 W 


S 

s 

S 


78 02 W 
30 34 W 
68 50 E 


1047 
4228 
1448 


Roar. 
Rag. 
Cow. 


3 38 


16 07. 78 


75 55 43- 22 S 
S 

N 


82 29 W 
59 42 E 
86 14 E 


N 
N 

s 


82 28 E 
59 42 W 
86 15 W 


1522 
1002 
2083 


Cow. 
Roar. 
Nanticoke Church. 



46 



Survey of Oyster Bars^ Wicomico County^ Md. 

BOUNDARKS OF NATURAL OYSTER BARS — continued. 
MIDDLEGROUND. 
(Mouth NatUicoke River — Chart No. 12.) 



Cor- 


Latitude 


Longitude 


True bearing 


Distance 
Yards. 


U. S. C. it G. S. trianguli 


bar 




Forward 




B 


ack 




tion station 







/ // 


/ // 







, 


/ 






I 


38 


12 26. 22 


75 55 40.38 


N 
N 
S 


79 
29 
83 


30 E 
24 W 
42 w 


S 

s 

N 


79 
29 

83 


32 
25 
39 


W 
E 
E 


4697 
4058 
5699 


Great Shoals Light. 

Frog. 

Sharkhn .Shcial Light. 


2 


38 


12 32.01 


7,5 55 51-86 


N 
N 
S 


82 
26 
81 


21 E 

49 w 
17 \v 


S 

s 

N 


82 
26 
8r 


23 
48 

15 


W 
E 
E 


4q68 
.1741 
5422 


Great Shoals Light. 

Frog. 

Sharkfin Shoal Light 


3 


38 


12 47.41 


75 55 44-62 


N 
N 
S 


88 
33 
76 


17 E 
40 \V 
26 \V 


s 
s 

N 


88 
33 
76 


19 

41 
23 


\V 
E 
E 


4734 
3389 
57"- 


Great Shoals Light. 

Frog. 

Sharkfin Shoal Light 


4 


38 


13 1301 


75 55 54-46 


s 

N 
S 


81 
39 
67 


47 E 
34 W 
23 w 


N 
S 

N 


81 
39 
67 


45 
35 
21 


W 

E , 
E 


5045 
2539 
5729 


Great Shoals Light. 

Frog. 

Sharkfin Shoal Light 


5 


38 


14 43- 39 


75 55 32-02 


N 
N 
S 


13 38 E 
34 19 W 
63 48 w 


S 
S 

N 


13 
34 
63 


38 
20 

47 


W 
E ■ 
E 


2408 
3204 
2468 


Roar 
Cow. 
Frog. 


6 


38 


15 03.62 


75 55 00.00 


N 
N 
S 


9 
53 
59 


44 W 
32 w 
59 W 


S 

s 

N 


9 
53 
59 


44 
33 
58 


E 
E 
E 


1683 
3305 
3541 


Roar. 

Cow. 
Frog. 


7 


38 


13 12.39 


75 55 00.00 


S 
N 
S 


78 48 E 
57 10 W 
72 04 W 


N 
S 

N 


78 
57 
72 


47 
II 
02 


W 
E 
E 


3613 
3649 

7082 


Great Shoals Liglil. 

Frog. 

Sharkfin Shoal Light 


8 


38 


13 10.60 


75 54 40- 80 


s 

N 
S 


78 
60 

73 


04 E 
19 W 

42 W 


N 
S 
N 


78 
60 

73 


03 

21 
39 


\\ 
E 

E 


3100 
41 16 
7553 


Great Shoals Light 

Frog. 

Sharkfin Shoal Light 



BIG HILL. 
{Mouth NatUicoke Rivet — Chart No. 12.) 




Survey of Oyster Bars^ li'icoiiiico County^ Md. 

BOUNDARIES OF NATURAL OYSTER BARS — continued. 

GREAT SHOALS. 
{Mouth Wicomico River — Chart No. 12.) 

True bearing 
Longitude - Disti 

Forward I Back 



47 



I 38 12 4701 



38 13 00.41 



3 3» '3 13-97 



4 38 13 20.76 






, 




, 







, 






, 




Yards. 




75 


52 


37 


71 


N 


54 


28 


W 


S 


54 28 


E 


285 


Great Shoals Light 










S 


39 


20 


W 


N 


.39 19 


E 


1505 


Short. 










S 


57 


44 


E 


N 


57 43 


W 


1979 


Dove. 


75 


54 


00 


00 


s 


37 


25 


E 


N 


37 25 


w 


2034-, 


Short. 










s 


81 


19 


E 


N 


81 18 


w 


1971 


Great Shoals Liglil 










N 


II 


40 


E 


S 


II 40 


w 


1433 


White. 


75 


54 


00 


00 


s 


30 


49 


E 


N 


30 48 


w 


2414 


Short. 










s 


68 


49 


E 


N 


68 48 


w 


2090 


Great Shoals Liglil 










N 


17 


ot 


E 


S 


17 01 


w 


990 


White. 


75 


52 


19 


72 


N 


36 


44 


E 


S 


36 44 


w 


1545 


Wind. 










s 


28 


34 


E 


N 


28 35 


w 


2500 


Dove. 










s 


36 


10 


W 


N 


36 10 


E 


1219 


Great Shoals Light 



5 38 


12 49 


82 


75 


^2 


24 


28 


S 


48 


49 


E 


X 


48 


49 


W 


<749 


Dove. 


















s 


46 


10 


VV 


N 


46 


10 


E 


1818 


Short. 


















N 


84 


22 


w 


s 


84 


22 


E 


601 • 


Great Shoals 


Light. 



INGRAM SHOAL. 

(Lower Wicomico River — Cliart No. 12.) 



13 38.61 



38 13 51.98 



3 38 13 57- 26 75 52 I 



3- 64 


S 21 12 W 
N s8 14 E 
N 31 W 


N 
S 
S 


21 12 E 

58 14 w 
31 E 


Yards. 
1702 
1210 

1877 


Great Shoals Light 

Wind. 

Ella. 


1.90 


S 10 59 W 
N 81 31 E 
N 8 06 E 


X 

s 

S 


10 59 E 

81 32 w 

8 06 W 


2075 
1262 
■439 


Great Shoals Light 

Wind. 

Ella. 


8.97 


S 18 28 W 
N 89 29 E 
X 6 28 W 


X 
S 

s 


18 28 E 

89 -^o W 

6 28 E 


2335 
904 

1255 


Great Shoals Light 

Wind. 

Ella 



48 



Survey of Oyster Bars, Wicomico County, Md. 

BOUNDARIES OF NATURAL OYSTER BARS — Continued. 

HOLLAND. 
[Lower Wicomico River — Chart No. 12.) 



Cor- 


Latitude 


Loii^tudc 


True bearing 


Distance 


U. S. C. & G. S. triangula- 


o£ 
bar 


■Forward 


Back 


tion station 


' 


3$ 14 36.02 


75 .s I 06. 20 


N 8 40 
S 38 27 

s 32 56 


W 

w 

E 


S 8 40 E 
N 38 26 E 
N 32 56 W 


Yards. 
469 

1659 

414 


HoUand. 

Wind. 

Ball. 


2 


38 14 38.98 


75 51 09.36 


N I 40 
S 34 06 
S 34 36 


E 
W 
E 


S I 40 W 
N 34 06 E 
N 34 35 ^\' 


364 
1690 

545 


Holland. 

Wind. 

Ball. 


3 


38 14 42.04 


7.S ^i 03.04 


N 30 42 
S 36 36 
S 14 23 


W 
W 
E 


S 30 42 E 
N 36 36 E 

X 14 23 w 


303 
1871 
569 


Holland. 

Wind. 

Ball. 



4 38 14 39- 00 75 51 00.40 



N 31 47 W 
S 40 16 W 
S 9 GO E 



S 31 47 E 
N 40 16 E 
N 9 00 W 



428 I Holland. 
1834 I Wind. 
454 Ball. 



APPENDIXES 



Appendix A.— LAWS RELATING TO THE COOPERATION OF THE COAST AND GEODETIC 
SURVEY AND BUREAU OF FISHERIES WITH THE MARYLAND SHELL FISH COM- 
MISSION. 

The work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and of the Bureau of Fisheries, in cooperation with 
the Maryland Shell Fish Commission, in surveying the oyster bars, establishing permanent landmarks 
at triangulation stations, and preparing for publication the necessary charts and technical and legal 
descriptions of boundaries and landmarks shown on these charts, has been executed in compliance with 
a request from the governor of the State of Maryland to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, and by 
the authority of the following laws of the United States and Maryland: 

[Act of Congress approved May 26, 1906.] 

AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of Commerce and Labor to cooperate, through the Bureau of the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey and the Bureau of Fisheries, with the shellfish commissioners of the State of Maryland in making surveys 
of the natiu"al oyster beds. bars, and rocks in the waters within the State of Maryland. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House 0/ Representatives of the United States of America in Congress 
assembled, That the Secretary of Commerce and Labor be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed, 
upon the request of the governor of the State of Maryland, to designate such officers, experts, and 
employees of the Bureau of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and of the Bureau of Fisheries as may be 
necessary to cooperate with the Maryland State board of shellfish commissioners in making a survey 
of and locating the natural oyster beds, bars, and rocks in the waters within the State of Maryland; 
and the Secretary of Commerce and Labor is hereby authorized and directed to furnish to the officers, 
experts, and employees of said Bureaus so detailed as aforesaid such instruments, appliances, and 
steam launches as may be necessary to make the survey aforesaid; and the Secretary of Commerce 
and Labor is hereby authorized to have made in the Bureau of the Coast and Geodetic Survey all the 
plats necessary to show the results of the aforesaid survey and the locations of the said natural oyster 
beds, bars, and rocks in the waters within the State of Maryland, and to furnish to the board of shell- 
fish commissioners of the State of Maryland such copies as may be necessary, and for this purpose to 
employ, in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, such technically qualified persons as may be neces- 
sary to carry out the purpose of this act. 

Sec. 2. That the Secretary of Commerce and Labor is hereby further authorized to have erected 
or constructed by the officers so detailed as aforesaid, while making such survey, such structures as 
may be necessary to mark the points of triangulation, so that the same may be used for such future 
work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey as the said Bureau may be hereafter required to perform in 
prosecuting the Government coast survey of the navigable waters of the United States located within 
the State of Maryland. 

4: * ^ 4: * :fc 4e 

Sec. 4. That this act shall take effect from the date of its passage. 



50 Survey of Oyster Bars, IJ'iconiico County, Md. 

[Act of Congress approved June 3o, 1906.] 

AN ACT Making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the Escal year ending June thirtieth, 
nineteen hundred and seven, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress 
assembled. That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated, for the objects herein- 
after expressed, for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seven, namely: * * * 

Coast and Geodetic Survey: * * * por any special surveys * * * including the 
expenditures authorized under Public Act Numbered One hundred and eighty-one, approved May 
twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred and six, and contingent expenses incident thereto, five thousand dollars, 
together with the unexpended balance under this appropriation for nineteen hundred and six and 
prior years which is hereby reappropriated and made available on this account for the fiscal year 
nineteen hundred and seven. * * * 



[Act of Congress approved March 4, 1907.] 

AN ACT Making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending Jiuie thirtieth, 
nineteen hundred and eight, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress 
assembled, That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated, for the objects herein- 
after expressed, for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eight, namely: * * * 

Coast and Geodetic Survey: * * * For any special surveys * * * including expenses 
of surveys in aid of the shellfish commission of the State of Maryland, to be immediately available 
and to continue available unul expended, twenty-five thousand dollars. * * * 



[Act of Congress approved May 27, 1908.] 

AN ACT Making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, 
nineteen hundred and nine, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress 
assembled, That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated, for the objects herein- 
after expressed, for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and nine, namely: * * * 

Coast and Geodetic Survey: * * * For any special surveys * * * including expenses 
of surveys in aid of the shellfish commission of the State of Maryland, which expenses, including cost 
of plats and charts, shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars in any one year, to be immediately avail- 
able, twenty thousand dollars. 



[Act of the legislature of Maryland approved April 2, 1906.] 

AN ACT to establish and promote the industry of oyster cultm*e in Maryland, to define and mark natural oyster beds. 
bars and rocks lying under the waters of this State, to prescribe penalties for the infringement of the provisions of 
this Act, and » * * 

Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the following sections be, and 
they are hereby, added to Article 72 of the Code of Public General Laws, title "Oysters." * * * 

Sec. 86. The Board of Shell Fish Commissioners sliall, as soon as practicable after the passage of 
this Act, cause to be made a true and accurate survey of the natural oyster beds, bars and rocks of 
this State, said survey to be made with reference to fixed and permanent objects on the shore, giving 
courses and distances, to be fully described and set out in a written report of said survey, as hereinafter 
required. A true and accurate delineation of the same shall be made on copies of published maps and 
charts of the United States coast and geodetic survey,, which said copies shall be filed in the oflice of 
the said commissioners in the city of Annapolis: and the said commissioners shall further cause to be 



Survey of Oyster Bars^ Wicomico County^ Md. 51 

delineated upon copies of the published maps and charts of the United States coast and geodetic 
survey, of the largest scale, one copy for each of the counties of this State in the waters of which there 
are natural oyster beds, bars and rocks, all natural beds, bars and rocks lying within the waters of 
such county, which maps shall be filed in the offices of the clerks of the Circuit Court for the respective 
counties wherein the grounds so designated may lie. 

Sec. 87. The Governor of this State is hereby requested to ask the assistance of the United States 
coast and geodetic survey, and of the United States Fish Commissioner, to aid in the carrying out of 
the provisions of the preceding section. * * * 



Sec. 89. As soon as practicable after the first day of April, 1906, the said commissioners shall 
organize, and shall at once proceed, with the assistance of such person or persons as may be detailed by 
the United States coast and geodetic survey, and the United States Fish Commissioner, to aid them 
in their work, and of such persons as may be appointed under the preceding section, to have laid out, 
surveyed and designated on the said charts, the natural beds and bars, and shall cause to be marked 
and defined as accurately as practicable, the limits and boundaries of the natural beds, bars and rocks, 
as established by said survey, and they shall take true and accurate notes of said survey in writing, 
and make an accurate report of said survey, setting forth such a description of landmarks as may be 
necessary to enable the said board, or their successors, to find and ascertain the boundary lines of the 
said natural oyster beds, bars and rocks, as shown by a delineation on the maps and charts provided 
in this Act; said report shall be completed and filed in the office of the board in the city of Annapolis 
within ninety days after the completion of the survey of any county. Said commissioners shall cau.se 
the same to be published in pamphlet form, and transmit copies of the same to the clerks of the Circuit 
Court for the respective counties, where the charts have been filed or directed to be filed as hereinafter 
provided; the said report to be filed by the clerks of the several counties in a book kept for that purpose. 
And the said survey and report, when filed, subject to the right of appeal hereafter provided for in this 
Act, shall be taken in all of the courts of this State as conclusive evidence of the boundaries and limits 
of all natural oyster beds, bars and rocks, lying within the waters of the county wherein such survey 
and report are filed, and shall be construed to mean in all of the said courts that there are no natural 
oyster beds, bars or rocks lying within the waters of the counties wherein such report and survey are 
filed, other than those embraced in the survey authorized by this Act, and that all areas of the Chesa- 
peake Bay and its tributaries within the State of Maryland, not shown in the survey to be natural 
oyster beds, bars or rocks, shall be construed in all the courts of the State to be barren bottoms, and 
open for disposal by the State for the purpose of private planting or propagation of oysters thereon 
under the provisions of this Act; provided, that the said survey and report shall not be so construed as 
to affect in any manner the holdings by citizens of this State in any lot which may have been appro- 
priated or taken up under the laws of this State prior to the approval of this Act. * * * 

The law of the State of Maryland, passed March g, 1842, authorizing oftlcers of the United States 
Coast and Geodetic Survey to enter upon the lands within the State limits for the purposes of the 
Survey, is as follows: 

An Act Concerning the Survey of the Coast of Maryland. 

Section i . Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That it shall and may be lawful for any 
person or persons employed under and by virtue of an act of the Congress of the United States, * * * 
at any time hereafter to enter upon lands within this State for the purpose of exploring, surveying, 
triangulating, or levelling, or doing any other matter or thing which may be necessary to effect the 
objects of said act, and to erect any works, stations, buildings, or appendages requisite for that purpose, 
doing no unnecessary injury to private or other property. 

Sec. 2." And be it enacted, That in case the person or persons employed under the act of Congress 
aforesaid, can not agree with the owners or possessors of the land so entered upon and used as to the 
amount of damage done thereto by reason of the removal of fences, cutting of trees or injury to the 



<• Under the rulings of the Comptroller of the Treasiu-y no damages can be collected except through the United 
States Court of Claims unless an agreement has been made in advance. 



52 Survey of Oyster Bars^ Wicomico County^ Md. 

crop or crops growing on the same, it shall and may be lawful for the said parties or either of them to 
apply to the chief justice for the time being or one of the associate judges of the judicial district in 
which such land may be situated, who shall thereupon appoint three disinterested and judicious free- 
holders, residents of the same judicial district, to proceed with as much despatch as possible to the 
examination of the matter in question, and the faithful assessment of the damages sustained by the 
owners or possessors aforesaid, and the said freeholders or a majority of them, having first taken and 
subscribed an oath or affirmation before the chief or associate justice aforesaid or other person duly 
authorized to administer the same, that they will well and truly examine and assess as aforesaid, and 
having given five days' notice to both parties of the time of their meeting, shall proceed to the spot, 
and then and there upon their own view and if required, upon the evidence of witnesses, (to be by 
them sworn or affirmed and examined) shall assess the said damages, and shall afterward make report 
thereof and of their proceedings in writing under their hands and seals and file the same within five 
days thereafter in the office of the clerk of the county in which the land aforesaid is situated, subject 
to an appeal by either party to the county court of the said county within ten days after filing as 
aforesaid, and the said report so made as aforesaid, if no appeal as aforesaid be taken, shall be held to 
be final and conclusive as between the said parties, and the amount so assessed and reported shall be 
paid to the said owners or possessors of the land so damaged within twenty days after the filing of 
said report, and the said chief or associate justice as aforesaid, shall have authority to tax and allow 
upon the filing of said report, such costs, fees and expenses to the said freeholders for the performance 
of their duty as he shall think equitable and just, which allowance shall be paid by the person or persons 
employed under the act of congress aforesaid, within the time last above limited, but if an appeal as 
aforesaid be taken, the case shall be set down for hearing at the first term of county court aforesaid, 
ensuing upon and after appeal, and it shall be lawful for either party immediately after the entry of 
such appeal, to take out summons for such witnesses as may be necessary to be examined upon the 
hearing aforesaid, and the said court shall have power in its discretion to award costs against which ever 
the final judgment shall be entered, and such appeal at the option of either party may and shall be 
heard before and the damage assessed by a jury of twelve men to be taken from the regular panel 
and elected as in other cases. 

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That if any person or persons shall wilfully injure or deface or remove 
any signal, monument or building or any appendage thereto, erected, used or constructed under and 
by virtue of the act of congress aforesaid, such person or persons so offending shall severally forfeit 
and pay the sum of fifty dollars with costs of suit to be sued for and recovered by any person who 
shall first prosecute the same before any justice of the peace of the county where the person so offending 
may reside, and shall also be liable to pay the amount of damages thereby sustained, to be recovered 
with costs of suit in an action on the case, in the name and for the use of the llnited States of America, 
in any court of competent jurisdiction. 



Appendix B.— THE HAMAN OYSTER CULTURE LAW. 

[Exuract from First Report of Shell Fish Commission.] 

OBJECT. 

"The legislature in placing chapter 711 of the acts of 1906, better known as the Haman Oyster 
Culture Law, upon the statute books of Maryland had a twofold object in view: 

1. To encourage an industry in oyster culture upon the barren bottoms beneath the tidewaters of 
the State. 

2. To prevent the leasing of natural oyster bars for the purpose of oyster culture." 



"To make the leasing of barren bottoms possible and the leasing of natural bars impossible, pro- 
vision was made for a survey of the natural bars for the purpose of accurately locating and marking the 
same. It was definitely provided that no barren bottoms should be leased in any part of the State 
until the natural bars of that region had been surveyed, charted, and marked with buoys." 



Sni'c'cv of Ovslcr Bars^ Wicomico Couiily^ Md. 53 

NATURAL BAR NOT DEFINED. 

"The Shell Fish Commission is instructed by section 90 of the Haman Oyster Culture Law to 
exercise its judgment hberally in favor of the natural bars when surveying, charting and buoying them, 
but other than this the Commission is uninstructed in this important matter. The responsibility of 
defining a natural bar is placed upon the Commission." 

DEFINITION OF A NATURAL OYSTER BAK. 

DIVERSITY OF OPINION. 

" No definition of a natural oyster bar could be formulated by any man or body of men which would 
meet with the approval of all parties concerned. Oystermen, as a rule, hold that all bottoms where 
oysters grow or have grown naturally even though now practically barren of oysters should be considered 
natural bars. Other citizens of the State who are not directly interested in the oyster business, but 
interested in the oyster industry from the standpoint of revenue, hold, as a rule, that no bottoms should 
be excluded from leasing for oyster culture which, by methods known to oyster culturists, may be 
made to yield a greater number of oysters than they now produce." 

"It should be evident to every one that neither of these definitions could be adopted by the Com- 
mission as a working basis for determining which of the grounds surveyed are natural oyster bars." 

THE GOLDSBOROUGH DEFINITION. 

"The definition of a natural bar which very nearly approaches a reasonable and satisfactory 
compromise between the extreme views given above and which has therefore been adopted by the 
Commission, is that contained in an opinion rendered by Judge Charles F. Goldsborough in the circuit 
court for Dorchester County in the July term, 1881, in the case of William T. Windsor and George R. 
Toed, V. Job T. Moore. It is as follows: 

What then is a natural bar or bed of oysters? It would be a palpable absurdity for the State to 
attempt to promote the propagation and growth of oysters and to encourage its citizens, by a grant 
of land, to engage in their culture, if the lands authorized to be taken up were only those upon which 
oysters do not and can not be made to grow. That there may be lands covered by water in the State 
where no oysters can be found, but where, if planted, they could be cultivated successfully, may be 
possible, but, if so, I imagine that their extent must be too limited for them to be of much practical, 
general advantage for the purposes of such a law as the one under discussion; but there are thousands 
of acres of hard and shifting sands where oysters not only are not found, but where it would be folly 
to plant them; and these latter it can not be supposed that the State intended to offer to give away, 
for the simple reason that the State could not help knowing that nobody would have them. 

Upon the other hand there are large and numerous tracts where oysters of natural growth may 
be found in moderate numbers, but not in quantities sufficient to make it profitable to catch them, 
and yet where oysters may be successfully planted and propagated. In my opinion these can not be 
called natural bars or beds of oysters, within the meaning of the Act of Assembly, and it is just such 
lands as these that the State meant to allow to be taken up under the provisions of the above-mentioned 
section of the Act. 

But there is still another class of lands where oysters grow naturally and in large quantities and 
to which the public are now and have been for many years in the habit of resorting with a view to 
earning a livelihood by catching this natural growth, and here, I think, is the true test of the whole 
question. Land can not be said to be a natural oyster bar or bed merely because oysters are scattered 
here and there upon it, and because if planted they will readily live and thrive there; but whenever 
the natural growth is so thick and abundant that the pubUc resort to it for a livelihood, it is a natural 
oyster bar or bed and comes within the above-quoted restriction in the law, and cannot be located or 
appropriated by any individual." 



Appendix C— STATISTICS OF RESULTS OF THE COMBINED OPERATIONS OF THE 
GOVERNMENT AND STATE. 

For a further understanding of the character of the oyster survey work that is being carried on 
in Maryland, the following statistical tabulation of the combined results of the various operations of 
both the Government and vState will be of value. In this connection it should be remembered that 



54 



Survey of Oyster Bars^ Wicomico Coimty^ Md, 



these statistics only include the new work required to supplement the large amount of existing data 
obtained from the archives of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and utilized in the preparation of the 
charts and technical records. 



Natural oyster bars surveyed and delineated 

Acres of natural oyster bars !__' 

Crab bottoms surveyed and delineated 

Acres of crab bottoms 

Clara beds surv-eyed and delineated 

Acres of clam beds 

Boundary buoys located and planted 

Triangula tion landmarks established 

Miles of shore line covered by triangulation 

Square miles of water covered by triangulation 

Miles of examination of shell bottom with chain apparati 

Oyster investigation stations occupied 

Number of soundings over shell bottoms 

Square miles covered by soundings and chain apparatus _ 

Projections prepared and plotted 

Leasing charts prepared 

Oyster charts published 

Reports published 

Progress maps published, 




220 


37S 


369 


296 


440 


679 


049 


17.904 


s« i 


47 



a Total area of natural oyster bars of Connecticut is s.77o acres. 
6 Less quantities covered by statistics of more than one coimty. 



O 



r 



COAST AND GEODETIC SlTRVirr 

PROGRESS MAP 



WICOMICO COTJTsTTY 
MARYLAND 



3 accomparry report oCwoik of United States 
Coast and Geodetic Siu-vej m cooperalion. 
■with the MaT/lajid Shell Fish Connmssion 



Landmarks (Coast SLOTiy Trian^ation Stations) 

Waters contiguous to county 

Waters within territorial hmits of countj^ 

Limits of projections on file at Washington 

Limits of charts publisheiH Ijy Coast and Geodetic Survey 




